JP5356386B2 - Multi-component filter for smoking articles - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to multi-component filters for smoking articles and to smoking articles including such multi-component filters.

A cigarette with a filter is typically a rod of tobacco cut filler surrounded by wrapping paper and a cylindrical filter aligned and attached to the wrapping tobacco rod end-to-end and attached by tip paper Including. A vent in the form of a circumferential perforation is generally provided at a location along the filter to mix mainstream smoke generated during combustion of the packaged tobacco rod with the outside air.
In conventional filter cigarettes, the filter usually consists of a plug of cellulose acetate tow wrapped in a porous plug wrap. However, filter cigarettes having multi-component filters that include two or more segments of filtration material for removal of particulate and gas phase components of mainstream smoke are also known. In order to enhance the flavor of mainstream smoke, it is known to provide a filtered cigarette having a filter that includes a flavorant. In particular, it has been proposed to include flavorings in the form of plant material such as leaves, seeds or roots from one or more aromatic plants. In one known example, a filtered cigarette with a multi-component filter having a flavor release segment containing a mixture of licorice plant material, ginger root, and plant material including chopped peppermint leaves is proposed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,281,671 US Pat. No. 7,074,170 Japanese Patent Application No. 10182842

  Provided is a multi-component filter for smoking articles that provides improved flavor enhancement during use, particularly improved mint and menthol flavor delivery to mainstream smoke when aspirated from a rod of smokable material through a filter by a consumer Is considered desirable. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a multi-component filter for smoking articles that includes a flavor release segment that minimizes flavor loss during storage.

The present invention provides a multi-component filter for a smoking article comprising a labial segment and a flavor release segment upstream of the labial segment, wherein the flavor release segment comprises plant leaves and a filter plasticizer.
The present invention also provides a smoking article comprising a packaged rod of smokable material and a multi-component filter according to the present invention, preferably attached to the rod of smokable material by tipping paper. Preferably, the smoking article is a filter cigarette.

  Throughout this specification, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” describe the relative position of the segments of the multi-component filter of the present invention with respect to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn from the smokable material through the multi-component filter during use. Used for. For example, in the filter of the present invention, the flavor release segment is upstream of the labial segment, which means that mainstream smoke is first drawn through the flavor release segment and then through the labial segment.

The term “filter plasticizer” means any compound suitable for use as a plasticizer in a conventional fibrous cigarette filter plug. In conventional fibrous filter plugs, the role of the filter plasticizer is to bond the plug fibers together so that the rigidity of the plug and thus its resistance to compression is increased. Plasticizers are typically solvents for fiber materials and act to bond them together by softening the outer surfaces of the fibers. Glycerol triacetate is commonly used as a filter plasticizer for cellulose acetate tow.
Preferably, the filter plasticizer used in the present invention is glycerol triacetate.

The term “plant leaf” is preferably used to refer to a material consisting of plant leaves that have been cut or cut to provide a particulate material.
The flavor release segment can include any plant leaf capable of releasing flavor into mainstream smoke drawn through a multi-component filter. Preferably the plant leaves are leaves of non-tobacco plants. The flavor release segment can include leaves from one or more plants. In a preferred embodiment, the flavor released from the leaves of the plant is provided by volatile compounds such as contained oils that volatilize during smoking. Mainstream smoke rich in volatile oil from plant leaves flows downstream through the labial segment of the multi-component filter and enters the consumer's mouth.

Prior to smoking, volatile oil remains trapped in the leaves of the plant. Thereby, loss of flavor is minimized during storage of the multi-component filter and smoking article according to the present invention, and thus, in an advantageous aspect, it is ensured that flavor release into the mainstream smoke during smoking is maximized. .
Preferably, the leaves of the plant within the flavor release segment are cut, cut or otherwise reduced in size. More preferably, the plant leaves have a cutting width between about 0.25 mm and about 3 mm. Most preferably, the leaves of the plant have a cutting width between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.
Preferably, the plant leaves are dried to a moisture content between about 8% and about 10%.
Preferably, the plant leaves in the flavor release segment comprise herbal leaves.

  The term “herb leaf” is used to refer to the leaves of herbaceous plants. A “herbaceous plant” is an aromatic plant without woody tissue, whose leaves are used for medicinal, cooking, or aromatic purposes and can release flavor into mainstream smoke drawn through a multi-component filter. The flavor release segment may include herbal leaves from one or more perennial or annual herbaceous plants. For example, the flavor release segment includes herbs from herbaceous plants including, but not limited to, peppermint, lemon balm, basil cinnamon, lemon basil, chives, coriander, basil, lavender, sage, tea, sime, and carb. Can contain leaves.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the leaves of the plant within the flavor release segment comprise peppermint leaves. Preferably, the oil content of peppermint leaves is at least about 0.6% by weight. The inclusion of peppermint leaves in the flavor release segment of the multi-component filter according to the invention advantageously provides mint and menthol flavors in an improved manner to the mainstream smoke of smoking articles. A smoking article according to the present invention with a multi-component filter comprising peppermint leaves advantageously enhances the supply of mint and peppermint flavors compared to conventional menthol cigarettes.

  In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the plant leaf in the flavor release segment is peppermint leaf and the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate. The inclusion of peppermint leaves and glycerol triacetate in the flavor release segment of the multi-component filter and smoking article according to the present invention advantageously provides mint and menthol provided by the release of menthol and other volatile oils from peppermint leaves. It has been surprisingly found that the flavor is enhanced. This is illustrated by the results shown in Table 1 below.

  Table 1 shows the amount of specific flavor compounds released into the mainstream smoke from peppermint leaves in the flavor release segment of the filter cigarettes of the present invention (samples 1 and 3) of the general configuration shown in FIG. Yes. The flavor release segment consists of a plug of cellulose acetate tow containing distributed peppermint leaves and glycerol triacetate. Table 1 also shows the release from peppermint leaves in the flavor release segment of a filtered cigarette (samples 2 and 4) that is not in accordance with the present invention and does not contain glycerol triacetate in the same configuration as samples 1 and 3. The amount of flavor compound produced is also shown. Each of the samples contains 40 mg peppermint leaves. Not all compounds released from peppermint leaves were measured.

Each of the samples was smoked under ISO conditions and the smoke extract obtained using the GC-MS single ion monitoring method was analyzed to determine the level of volatile compounds in the smoke. Full scanning analysis was performed in the scanning range of 30 to 400 m / z (anion mass to charge ratio).
As can be seen from Table 1, the combination of glycerol triacetate and peppermint leaves in the flavor release segment of a filter cigarette according to the present invention provides a filter cigarette according to the present invention in which the flavor release segment does not contain glycerol triacetate In comparison, improved levels of flavor compounds released from peppermint leaves into mainstream smoke during smoking resulted.

(Table 1)

  During smoking of a smoking article comprising a multi-component filter according to the invention in which the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate, acetic acid and glycerin are released in the flavor release segment of the filter as a result of hydrolysis of glycerol triacetate. Thus, the level of acetic acid released in the filter during smoking is significantly higher than smoking articles not according to the invention, as illustrated by the results shown in Table 2 below. Table 2 provides the dimensions and characteristics of a filtered cigarette (Sample 5) according to the present invention having the general configuration shown in FIG. The labial segment of the filter cigarette consists of a plug of cellulose acetate tow, and the flavor release segment consists of a plug of cellulose acetate tow with peppermint leaves and glycerol triacetate distributed therein. Table 2 provides the dimensions and characteristics of a filtered cigarette (Sample 6) that has the same configuration as Sample 5, but the flavor release segment does not contain glycerol triacetate.

  As can be seen from Table 2, only the labial segment contains glycerol triacetate due to the combination of glycerol triacetate and peppermint leaves in the flavor release segment of the multi-component filter of the filter cigarette according to the invention (sample 5) There was a significant improvement in the level of acetic acid released into the filter compared to the cigarette with filter not according to the invention (sample 6).

(Table 2)

Preferably, the overall length of the smoking article according to the present invention is between about 70 mm and about 128 mm, more preferably about 84 mm.
Preferably, the outer diameter of the multi-component filter and smoking article according to the present invention is between about 5 mm and about 8.5 mm, more preferably about 7.9 mm.
Preferably, the overall length of the multi-component filter according to the present invention is between about 18 mm and about 36 mm, more preferably about 27 mm.
Preferably, the length of each individual segment of the multi-component filter according to the present invention is between about 5 mm and about 22 mm.

The labial segment of the multi-component filter according to the present invention, in some embodiments, can advantageously prevent plant leaves from reaching the consumer's mouth from the flavor release segment during smoking. Preferably, the labial segment comprises a filtering material. More preferably, the labial segment comprises a filtering material that has substantially zero particulate phase filtration efficiency or very low particulate phase filtration efficiency. The labial segment can include, for example, a cellulosic material, such as cellulose acetate tow, or other suitable fibrous filtration material with low filtration efficiency.
When the labial segment includes a filtering material, the length of the labial segment is preferably between about 3 mm and about 12 mm, more preferably between about 6 mm and about 8 mm.

The multi-component filter according to the present invention may further comprise a rod side segment upstream of the flavor release segment. Preferably, the rod side segment comprises a fibrous filtration material. The rod side segment can include, for example, a cellulose material such as cellulose acetate tow, or other suitable fibrous filtration material such as paper. Inclusion of the rod side segment containing the filtration material advantageously provides additional filtration efficiency.
Alternatively or additionally, the rod side segment can include at least one adsorbent capable of removing at least one gas phase component from the mainstream smoke drawn through the filter. Preferably, the at least one adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, activated aluminum, zeolite, leptite, molecular sieve, and silica gel.

The rod side segment can include one or more flavorings, preferably one or more liquid flavorings, to further enhance flavor delivery to the consumer during smoking. .
For example, the rod side segment can include a plug of filtration material that includes a thread impregnated with one or more liquid flavors. One or more yarns can be made of cellulose acetate yarn, rayon, cotton, or any other hydrophilic fiber, or non-fibrous material capable of absorbing or adsorbing liquid flavors. The yarn can be colored, for example, to indicate the type of flavoring impregnated therein. If more than one yarn is provided, the yarn can be the same or different in color and impregnated with the same or another liquid flavor. Preferably, the yarn can have a diameter between about 0.6 mm and about 2 mm, more preferably about 0.8 mm. A filter plug comprising a thread having a flavoring suitable for use in the rod side segment of a multi-component filter according to the present invention, and a method and apparatus for making such a plug are disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,281,671 and No. 7,074,170 and is available from "American Fi1tron Company", Richmond, Virginia, USA.

  Alternatively, the rod side segment can include a plurality of beads impregnated with a liquid flavor. The beads can be formed, for example, from a cellulose material bound with a polyvinyl acetate binder or from tobacco powder bound with microcrystalline cellulose. A suitable bead for use in the rod side segment of a multi-component filter according to the present invention is manufactured and sold under the brand name Viscopair 1s from Rengo Co. Ltd., Japan. A method and apparatus for producing such beads is also described in Japanese Patent Application No. 10182842. The beads can be the same or different diameters and colors. The color of the beads can indicate, for example, the type of flavoring impregnated. Preferably, the bead diameter can be between about 0.2 mm and about 2 mm.

A liquid flavor for use in the rod side segment of a multi-component filter according to the present invention comprises one or more flavor components to produce a certain type of flavor and is a natural extract, synthetic It can be a flavoring or a combination thereof. The types of liquid flavors and flavors that can be contained in the rod-side segment of the multi-component filter according to the present invention are not limited to the following, but include menthol, peppermint, spearmint, coffee, tea, spices (cinnamon, clove) , And ginger), cocoa, vanilla, and fruit flavors. In a preferred embodiment of the invention where the plant leaves in the flavor release segment are peppermint leaves, the rod side segment of the multi-component filter preferably comprises a liquid menthol flavor. In such embodiments, the provision of menthol flavoring on the rod side segment advantageously enhances the flavor released into the mainstream smoke drawn through the filter during smoking, and the peppermint leaves in the flavor release segment are mainstream. Complements menthol and mint flavor released downstream into the smoke.
The labial segment can include at least one flavoring agent such as those described above for the rod side segment. Preferably, if a flavoring agent is provided, the labial segment comprises one or more threads impregnated with a liquid flavoring agent.

  The multi-component filter according to the invention comprises a labial segment comprising at least one flavorant or a rod-side segment comprising at least one flavorant, or a labial segment comprising at least one flavorant and a rod comprising at least one flavorant. Side segments can be included. If the labial segment and the rod side segment include at least one flavorant, the at least one flavorant in the labial segment can be the same as or different from the at least one flavorant in the rod side segment. .

  In use, flavor is released into the mainstream smoke from the leaves of the plant in the flavor release segment as the mainstream smoke is drawn from the rod of smokable material through the multi-component filter. In embodiments of the invention in which at least one flavor is provided on the rod side segment, the flavor is also released upstream of the flavor release segment as described above. In embodiments of the invention in which at least one flavor is alternatively or additionally provided in the labial segment, the flavor is also released downstream of the flavor release segment. The multi-component filter according to the invention can therefore provide a 2 or 3 times flavor enhancement to the mainstream smoke drawn through the filter during smoking.

  The multi-component filter according to the invention forms separate continuous rods comprising a plurality of units of each individual segment of the multi-component filter, and then these in a known manner in one or more stages. It can be produced by combining separate rods to form a continuous filter rod comprising multiple units of a multi-component filter. The continuous filter rod can then be subsequently cut at regular intervals by a cutting mechanism to produce a series of individual multi-component filters according to the present invention.

Preferably, the smoking article according to the present invention comprises a packaged tobacco cut filler rod.
Preferably, the smoking article according to the present invention has a total nicotine-free dry particulate matter (NFDPM) or “tar” delivery of up to about 10 mg. More preferably, the “tar delivery” is between 1 mg and 10 mg, more preferably about 6 mg.
The smoking article according to the invention can be packaged in a container whose inner liner is coated with one or more flavorings, for example in a soft pack or a hinged lid pack.

In a first aspect of the invention, the plant leaves in the flavor release segment are distributed through a plug of fibrous filtration material, preferably cellulose acetate tow. The filter plasticizer is preferably added to the fibrous filter material in a conventional manner by spraying on the separated fibers prior to adding the plant leaves to the filter material.
Preferably, the leaves of the plant are distributed substantially evenly along the length of the plug of fibrous filtration material. The amount of peppermint leaves loaded into the flavor release segment is preferably about 1 mg to about 4 mg per mm of flavor release segment for a multi-component filter having a diameter of about 7.5 mm to about 7.8 mm.

  The amount of filter plasticizer can be between 1% and 9% of the plug of fibrous filtration material by weight, preferably 5% or less of the plug of fibrous filtration material by weight. When glycerol triacetate is used as the filter plasticizer, the amount of glycerol triacetate is preferably about 5% by weight of cellulose acetate tow or other fibrous filtration material. This level of glycerol triacetate has been found to provide satisfactory stiffness of the fibrous filtration material plug of the flavor release segment without interfering with flavor release from the peppermint leaves. The amount is significantly lower than the amount of glycerol triacetate in conventional cellulose acetate tow filter plugs, which is typically about 7% by weight.

In the smoking article according to the first aspect of the present invention, the flavor segment is preferably between about 5 mm and about 22 mm in length, more preferably between about 10 mm and about 15 mm in length, most Preferably, the length is about 12 mm.
In the smoking article according to the first aspect of the present invention, the labial segment can include a hollow tube or a recess. The hollow tube or recess can be formed when the multi-component filter is attached to a rod of smokable material, for example by tipping paper forming a tobacco article according to the present invention. In such smoking articles, the downstream end of the flavor release segment is visible at the labial edge of the multi-component filter through the hollow tube or recess, allowing the consumer to see the plant leaves distributed in the plug of fibrous filtration material. It becomes like this. Where the labial segment includes a hollow tube or recess, the length of the labial segment is preferably between about 3 mm and about 4 mm.

In a second aspect of the invention, the flavor release segment comprises a plant leaf plug, preferably a compressed plant leaf plug, coated with a filter plasticizer. The plug preferably does not contain any other material. The filter plasticizer can be added to the leaves of the plant before or after the plug is formed.
The amount of filter plasticizer is preferably between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight of plant leaves. Where the flavor release segment comprises a plug of peppermint leaf coated with glycerol triacetate, the amount of glycerol triacetate is preferably between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight of the peppermint leaf. Such smoking articles require glycerol triacetate only for flavor enhancement rather than stiffening of the filter plug, so glycerol triacetate is required rather than smoking articles where peppermint leaves are distributed in the plug of fibrous filtration material Is a fairly low level.
In the smoking article according to the second aspect of the present invention, the labial segment preferably comprises a fibrous filtration material to avoid loss of peppermint leaves from the filter.
In the smoking article according to the second aspect of the invention, the flavor release segment is preferably between about 3 mm and about 12 mm in length.

In a third aspect of the present invention, the multi-component filter according to the present invention further comprises a second flavor release segment between the aforementioned labial segment and the flavor release segment. Inclusion of the second flavor release segment further enhances flavor delivery to the smoking consumer.
Preferably, the second flavor release segment comprises tobacco leaves. Tobacco leaves can be reduced in size by cutting, cutting, or otherwise. Preferably, the tobacco leaf is finely cut, more preferably the tobacco leaf has a cutting width of about 0.4 mm.

Preferably, the tobacco leaves in the second flavor release segment are dried. Preferably, the moisture content of tobacco leaves is about 15% by weight or less.
Preferably, the length of the second flavor release segment is between about 6 mm and about 12 mm, more preferably between about 6 mm and about 10 mm.
The second flavor release segment may comprise tobacco leaves to which a casing containing, for example, sugar or a humectant is applied.
The invention is further described below by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a side view of a cigarette with a filter including a multi-component filter according to a first embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. FIG. It is a side view of a cigarette with a filter including a multi-component filter according to a second embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. It is a side view of a cigarette with a filter including a multi-component filter according to a third embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cigarette with a filter containing the multicomponent filter by 4th Embodiment of the 1st aspect of this invention. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cigarette with a filter containing the multi-component filter by 5th Embodiment of the 1st aspect of this invention. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cigarette with a filter containing the multi-component filter by 6th Embodiment of the 1st aspect of this invention. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cigarette with a filter containing the multi-component filter by the 7th Embodiment of the 1st aspect of this invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of a cigarette with a filter including a multi-component filter according to an embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side view of a cigarette with a filter including a multi-component filter according to an embodiment of the third aspect of the present invention.

The filtered cigarette shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 has several common components, which are provided with the same reference numbers. In each of the side views, a portion is cut away to show the internal details of the multi-component filter.
Each filter cigarette generally includes an elongated cylindrical wrapping tobacco rod 2 attached at one end to an axially aligned elongated cylindrical multicomponent filter 4. The packaged tobacco rod 2 and the multi-component filter 4 are joined in a conventional manner by a tip paper 6 circumscribing the full length of the multi-component filter and the adjacent portion of the packaged rod 2. A plurality of annular perforations 8 are provided through the tip paper 6 at positions along the multi-component filter 4 to vent the mainstream smoke generated during combustion with the outside air of the packaged tobacco rod 4.

A multi-component filter 4 of a cigarette with a filter according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is located on the lip side segment 12 away from the wrapping tobacco rod 2 and upstream of the lip side segment 12, and the wrapping tobacco rod. 2 includes two segments that are in contact with each other in an end-to-end relationship with the flavor release segment 14 that is adjacent to and abuts 2. The labial segment 12 includes a low filtration efficiency cellulose acetate tow plug plasticized with glycerol triacetate. The flavor release segment 14 includes a plug of cellulose acetate tow containing dried peppermint leaves having a cutting width of between about 1 mm and about 2 mm distributed substantially evenly therethrough. Cellulose acetate tow plugs contain 5% glycerol triacetate plasticizer by weight.
In an alternative embodiment (not shown) of the present invention, the labial segment 12 of the multi-component filter 4 shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with a substantially non-filtering recess formed by the tip paper 6.

The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette with filter 20 shown in FIG. 2 has the same configuration as the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette with filter 10 of FIG. 1 shown in FIG. However, the labial segment 12 of the filter cigarette 20 shown in FIG. 2 further includes a center cotton yarn 22 filled with menthol that extends axially through the plug of cellulose acetate tow parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 20. .
The cigarette 30 with a filter shown in FIG. 3 is located on the lip side segment 12 away from the tobacco rod 2, the flavor release segment 14 provided upstream of the lip side segment, and upstream of the flavor release segment 14, and is packaged tobacco. The multi-component filter 4 includes three segments that are in contact with each other in an end-to-end relationship with a rod-side segment 32 that is adjacent to and in contact with the rod 2. The labial segment 12 and flavor release segment 14 have the same configuration as that described above with reference to the cigarette with filter 10 shown in FIG.
The rod side segment 32 includes a medium to high filtration efficiency cellulose acetate tow plug that filters out particulate gas phase components of mainstream smoke during use.

The multicomponent filter 4 of the cigarette with filter 40 shown in FIG. 4 is similar in configuration to the multicomponent filter 4 of the cigarette 30 with filter shown in FIG. 3 and described above. However, the labial segment 12 of the filter cigarette 40 shown in FIG. 4 further includes a central cotton yarn 22 filled with menthol extending axially through a plug of cellulose acetate tow parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 40.
The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette with filter 50 shown in FIG. 5 is similar in configuration to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette 30 with filter shown in FIG. However, the rod side segment 32 of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 50 shown in FIG. 5 is filled with menthol extending axially through the plug of cellulose acetate tow parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 50. A central cotton yarn 52 is further included.

  The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette with filter 60 shown in FIG. 6 is again similar in configuration to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette with filter 30 shown in FIG. However, both the rod side segment 32 and the lip side segment 12 of the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 60 shown in FIG. 6 are axially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 60 and through the plug of cellulose acetate tow. Includes an extended menthol-filled central cotton yarn 22,52.

  In an alternative embodiment (not shown) of the present invention, the rod side segment 32 of the multi-component filter of the filter cigarettes 40, 50, 60 shown in FIGS. It may further comprise at least one adsorbent capable of removing gas phase components from the. The at least one adsorbent is, for example, activated carbon provided on cellulose acetate tow, activated aluminum, zeolite, or sepiolite.

The multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette with filter 70 shown in FIG. 7 is similar in configuration to the multi-component filter 4 of the cigarette 50 with filter shown in FIG. However, the rod-side segment 32 of the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 70 shown in FIG. 7 includes a plurality of Viscopair 1s (registered trademark) instead of the central cotton yarn 52.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not shown), the labial segment 12 of the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 is substantially filtered formed by the tip paper 6. Replaced with a recess that has no effect.

The filter cigarette 80 shown in FIG. 8 has a multi-component filter 4 similar in configuration to the filter cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60 shown in FIGS. The end of the side segment 12, the flavor release segment 14 provided upstream of the labial segment, and the rod side segment 32 located upstream of the flavor release segment 14 and adjacent to and in contact with the packaged tobacco rod 2 are connected to each other. 3 segments that are in contact with each other. The lip side segment 12 and the rod side segment 14 have the same configuration as described above with respect to the cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60 with filters. The flavor release segment 14 includes shredded peppermint leaf plugs coated and compressed with glycerol triacetate, instead of cellulose acetate tow plugs through which peppermint is distributed. The amount of glycerol triacetate is between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight ratio of peppermint leaves.
As described above with respect to the filtered cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60 shown in FIGS. 3-6, either or both of the labial segment 12 and the rod side segment 14 of the filtered cigarette 80 shown in FIG. It will be appreciated that it can be included.

  The cigarette 90 with a filter shown in FIG. 9 has a lip segment 12 that is separated from the tobacco rod 2, a first flavor release segment 92 provided upstream of the lip segment, and upstream of the first flavor release segment. Four abutting in an end-to-end relationship between the provided flavor releasing segment 14 and the rod side segment 32 located upstream of the second flavor releasing segment 14 and adjacent to and abutting the packaged tobacco rod 2 It has a multi-component filter 4 containing segments. The labial segment 12, the second flavor release segment 14, and the rod side segment 32 are the lip side segment, flavor release segment, and the above described with respect to the filtered cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 shown in FIGS. The configuration is the same as the rod side segment. The second flavor release segment 92 includes a densely packed chopped tobacco plug.

A multi-component filter 4 is generated to form the filtered cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 according to the embodiments of the present invention shown in FIGS. It is joined to the packaged tobacco rod 2 produced in a conventional manner by the tip paper 6 using the production equipment.
In order to produce each multi-component filter 4, separate continuous rods comprising a plurality of units of each segment 12, 14, 32, 92 of the multi-component filter 4 are produced in a known manner and then combined to produce a multi-component filter 4. A continuous filter rod comprising a plurality of units of the component filter 4 is formed. The continuous filter rod is then cut at regular intervals by a cutting mechanism to produce a series of individual multi-component filters.

4 Multi-component filter 12 Lip side segment 14 Flavor release segment

Claims (7)

Labial segment (12);
A flavor release segment (14) upstream of the labial segment (12);
Including
The flavor release segment (14), the plug of fibrous filtration material, peppermint leaf is distributed through the fibrous filtration material, and, viewed contains a filter plasticiser added to the fibrous filtration material, wherein the flavor release segment A multi-component filter (4) for smoking articles, characterized in that the amount of filter plasticizer in is up to 5% by weight of the fibrous filter material . The multi-component filter (4) according to claim 1, wherein the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate. The multi-component filter (4) of claim 2, wherein the amount of glycerol triacetate is between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight ratio of the peppermint leaves. The multi-component filter (4) according to claim 1, 2 or 3 , wherein the flavor release segment (14) comprises a plug of cellulose acetate tow in which the peppermint leaves are distributed. The multi-component filter (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a second flavor release segment between the lip side segment and the flavor release segment. The multi-component filter (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the labial segment (12) comprises at least one liquid flavor. A wrapped rod of smokable material (2);
The multi-component filter (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , attached to the rod (2) of the smokable material by a tip paper (6);
A smoking article (10) (20) (30) (40) (50) (60) (70) (80) characterized by comprising

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