JP5990273B2 - Smoking article with labial end cavity with index - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a smoking article that includes a wrapper that defines a labial end cavity and that includes one or more indicia added to the inner surface of the labial end cavity. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a smoking article.

  Various smoking articles are known, including some smoking articles that burn smoking material and other non-burning smoking articles that do not cause combustion. As an example of a burning smoking article, generally a cigarette with a filter includes a cylindrical filter aligned in a connected end-to-end relationship with a packaged tobacco rod, and the filter is attached to the tobacco rod by tip paper. In such a filter cigarette, the filter can consist of a plug of fibrous filter material, such as cellulose acetate tow, wrapped in a porous plug wrap. Traditionally, packaged tobacco rods and filters are generally joined by a chip wrapper formed of a band of paper material surrounding the entire length of the filter and adjacent portions of the packaged tobacco rod.

  As examples of non-burning smoking articles, several smoking articles are disclosed that heat rather than burn tobacco. In heated smoking articles, the aerosol is generated by heating a flavor generating carrier such as tobacco. Known heated smoking articles include, for example, electrically heated smoking articles and smoking articles that generate an aerosol by the transfer of heat from a combustible fuel element or heat source to a physically separate aerosol forming material. During smoking, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-forming carrier by heat and are entrained in the air drawn through the smoking article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to produce an aerosol for inhalation by the consumer. As another example of non-flammable smoking articles, WO 2008/121610 and WO 2010/107613 include nicotine from tobacco materials or other nicotine sources without burning and without application of heat. A smoking article that produces a contained aerosol is disclosed. In these types of smoking articles, a chemical source is provided to produce a nicotine-containing aerosol.

International Patent Publication No. 2008/121610 International Patent Publication No. 2010/107613 European Patent No. 1,571,933 European Patent No. 1,958,523

  In order to provide a smoking article having an aesthetically attractive appearance, it has been proposed to provide a wrapper having a graphic design printed on the smoking article. Such prints can be a continuous repeating pattern that covers all or part of the tobacco rod wrapper or chip paper, or can be discrete indicators or graphs.

  It would be desirable to provide smoking articles with a new means of displaying indicators such as text, images, characters, words, logos, patterns, and the like. It would be particularly desirable to provide a smoking article having this novel means of displaying a graph or indicator without significantly affecting the overall dimensions of the smoking article. It would also be desirable if such a smoking article could be assembled using standard packaging equipment and techniques.

  According to the present invention, a smoking article including a tobacco rod and a mouthpiece is provided. The mouthpiece includes at least one segment and a wrapper surrounding the at least one segment and defining a labial end cavity. The mouthpiece is axially aligned with the tobacco rod and has a rod end adjacent to the tobacco rod and a labial end opposite the rod end. One or more indicators are added to the inner surface of the wrapper portion that defines the labial end cavity.

  Inclusion of the labial end cavity increases the area for printing the indicator without significantly increasing the overall dimensions of the smoking article. By providing an indicator on the inner surface of the labial end cavity, the consumer is provided with a strong visual impact and a unique product. Furthermore, the visible surface area on the smoking article is increased, but the impact on the filtration efficiency of the smoking article is minimal.

  Preferably, the tobacco rod of the present invention is formed from a tobacco material adapted to burn to produce smoke, such as a cigarette or other combustible smoking article. Alternatively, the tobacco rod can be any aerosol-generating carrier that contains tobacco or another nicotine-containing material. Thus, the mouthpiece according to the invention can advantageously be used in filtered cigarettes and other smoking articles in which tobacco material burns to produce smoke. The mouthpiece according to the present invention can also be used in smoking articles where tobacco material is heated to produce an aerosol rather than burning. The mouthpiece according to the present invention can also be used in smoking articles that produce nicotine-containing aerosols from tobacco materials, tobacco extracts, or other nicotine sources without burning or heating.

  The term “indicator” is used to refer to individual print elements or repetitive print elements or patterns that provide an aesthetically pleasing representation. Indices can be in the form of text, images, characters, words, logos, patterns, or combinations thereof. For example, an indicator on the inner surface of the labial end cavity according to the present invention can include a brand or manufacturer's logo that allows the consumer to identify the type or origin of the smoking article. Alternatively, the indicator can include repeated printing elements or patterns on the inner surface of the wrapper material. The indicator may be substantially aligned with the axis of the smoking article substantially perpendicular to the axis of the smoking article or at an angle other than parallel or perpendicular to the smoking article. In addition, different indicators can be presented on several smoking articles sold together. For example, in one package, a smoking article can include two or more different types of indicators. In addition, the indicator is presented in a way that the message is presented using, for example, an indicator on an adjacent smoking article in the package that is visible when the package is opened, and a visual indicator that spells the word or collectively conveys the message. can do.

  To form the labial end cavity, the mouthpiece has a segment or other structure, such as a filter segment, and the wrapper extends beyond the labial end of the segment to form a labial end cavity. The mouthpiece segment can have an internal structure, such as a hollow cylinder, or it can be a cavity type filter as will be described in detail below. The wrapper can extend beyond the labial end of the segment by about 2 mm to about 10 mm, preferably about 4 mm to about 7 mm. The visible inner area of the wrapper can be about 50 square millimeters to about 250 square millimeters, preferably about 100 square millimeters to about 200 square millimeters, more preferably about 100 square millimeters to about 175 square millimeters. The visible inner area of the wrapper may be at least about 5%, preferably at least about 10% of the entire visible surface of the mouthpiece.

  When the wrapper material is a sheet material as described below, the basis weight of the wrapper material is preferably at least about 40 grams / square meter (gsm), more preferably at least about 60 gsm, and most preferably at least about 80 gsm. Alternatively or additionally, the basis weight of the wrapper material is preferably less than about 160 gsm, more preferably less than about 150 gsm, and most preferably less than about 140 gsm. The basis weight of the wrapper material is preferably from about 40 gsm to about 160 gsm, more preferably from about 45 gsm to about 150 gsm, and most preferably from about 80 gsm to about 140 gsm. In general, it is advantageous to use a wrapper material that is more rigid than conventional smoking articles to reduce the likelihood that the labial end cavity will collapse during smoking of the smoking article.

  In addition to providing an indicator on the inner surface of the wrapper that defines the labial end cavity, such an indicator can be provided on the outer surface of the mouthpiece. When the indicators are provided on the outer surface of the mouthpiece, they can be located only on the part of the mouthpiece that defines the cavity, or can extend along the mouthpiece towards the rod end of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the external indicator can be provided on the outer surface of the wrapper, while in other embodiments, the external indicator is external to additional wrapper material, such as a chip wrapper described in detail below. It can be provided on the side.

  The cross-sectional shape of the smoking article can have a variety of shapes including circular, oval, elliptical, or oval.

  Where the mouthpiece of the smoking article according to the present invention comprises a filter, the filter can be formed of a single segment or a multi-segment filter comprising two or more filter segments connected longitudinally. Where two or more filter segments are provided, the filter segments can be of the same configuration and material as each other, but more preferably have different configurations or can include different filter media or additives. . In certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the inlet comprises a multi-segment filter comprising a filter segment having a filter medium and particulate material dispersed throughout the filter medium.

  If the filter includes two or more segments, the segments are generally wrapped in plug wrap. Any or all of the two or more segments can each be individually wrapped in a plug wrap. Two or more segments can be joined by a coupling plug wrap that couples two or more segments together in an end-to-end connected relationship. This coupling plug wrap can be a rapper forming a labial end cavity, as described above, or even in the presence of a subsequent wrapper disposed around the coupling plug wrap forming the labial end cavity. Good.

  Preferably, the filter media in the filter segment is a plug of fibrous filter media such as cellulose acetate tow or paper. Preferably, the filter plasticizer can be added to the fibrous filter media in a conventional manner by spraying the filter plasticizer onto the separated fibers before adding any particulate material to the filter media. .

  Alternatively or in addition to the filter segments described herein, a multi-segment filter can include a hollow cavity that is at least partially filled with particulate material. In such an embodiment, it is preferable to provide a hollow cavity between two plugs of filter media.

  Preferably, about 40% to about 100% of the volume of the cavity, more preferably about 60% to about 80% of the volume of the cavity is filled with particulate material. Such cavity filters can be manufactured using known machines and techniques for making charcoal filters. In one such technique, two plugs of filter media are placed on the wrapper material in a spaced apart manner. The space between them is at least partially filled with particulate material and then wrapped around the plug with a wrapper to form a cavity between the plugs at least partially filled with particulate material. For example, EP 1 571 933 describes a detailed process. Machines for performing these manufacturing methods are available from various suppliers. For example, UK, Filtrona International Limited manufactures such machines.

  The particulate material incorporated in the filter segment described above can include at least one adsorbent that can remove at least one gas phase component from mainstream smoke drawn through the filter. Preferably, the at least one adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon beads, activated aluminum, zeolite, sepiolite, molecular sieve, and silica gel.

  Alternatively or additionally to at least one adsorbent, the particulate material can comprise at least one flavorant material. For example, the particulate flavoring material can include adsorbent or cellulose material particles impregnated with liquid flavoring. Alternatively, the particulate flavoring material can include particles of plant material. The plant material can be in the form of plant leaves, as described in EP 1,958,523. For example, the filter segment can include leaves from tobacco, green tea, peppermint, spearmint, laurel wreath, eucalyptus, basil, sage, verbena, and tarragon. In addition, a part of the mint plant can be used. The term “mint” means a plant belonging to the genus Menta. Alternatively, the plant material can be in the form of seeds, roots, skins, flowers, or combinations thereof, as commonly used as spices.

  Smoking articles according to the present invention include those described above, as well as other types of filter segments that would be known to those skilled in the art, such as segments containing restrictors and segments used to adjust suction resistance (RTD). Various different types of filter segments or combinations of filter segments can be included.

  In a first aspect of the invention, the wrapper that includes one or more indicators is a plug wrap. In the first aspect, the smoking article can further include a chip paper or chip wrapper that surrounds the mouthpiece and connects the mouthpiece and the tobacco rod. The tip paper can advantageously increase the stiffness of the wall of the labial end cavity to reduce the likelihood of the cavity collapsing upon smoking. Preferably, the tip wrapper overlies all or part of the portion of the plug wrap that defines the labial end cavity. The chip paper can be formed of a cellulose paper sheet material in the same manner as a conventional cigarette, thus providing the consumer with a texture and mouthfeel that is comfortable.

  In the first aspect, the plug wrap including one or more indicators extends from the labial end partway along the length of the mouthpiece so that the plug wrap does not cover a portion of the mouthpiece at the rod end. be able to. Preferably, a ventilation zone is provided which is positioned in the mouthpiece part which is not covered by the plug wrap. This can improve ventilation through the smoking article. More preferably, the vent zone includes at least one circumferential row of perforations, the perforations extending through the chip paper. This provides ventilation to the smoking article so that mainstream smoke mixes with ambient air during smoking. When the suction port includes a filter, the circumferential row of perforations is preferably provided at a predetermined location along the filter. Advantageously, if the plug wrap is substantially non-porous, a portion of the inlet is not covered with the plug wrap, thereby allowing sufficient ventilation through the vent zone.

  Alternatively, in the first aspect, the plug wrap including one or more indicators can extend along the entire length of the mouthpiece so that the plug wrap covers the entire mouthpiece including the labial end cavity. In yet another alternative, when the inlet includes at least one filter segment, the plug wrap extends along the entire length of the filter segment or segments.

  Preferably, if the mouthpiece includes a filter, the perforations are provided between about 9 mm and about 20 mm from the labial end of the filter. More preferably, perforations are provided about 12 mm from the labial end of the filter. This prevents blockage or blockage of the perforation by the consumer's lips during smoking.

  In another aspect of the invention, one or more indicators can be added to the inner surface of the chip paper surrounding the mouthpiece. In addition to the chip paper, a substantially transparent wrapper in the form of a plug wrap can be provided that encloses one filter segment or multiple segments as described above. In this way, one or more indicators on the chip paper are visible through the substantially transparent plug wrap.

  The term “substantially transparent” is used to describe a material that allows at least a majority of incident light to pass through, as can be seen through the material. In the present invention, the substantially transparent wrapper allows sufficient light to pass through the wrapper so that the indicator on the chip paper can be seen through the wrapper. A substantially transparent wrapper can be completely transparent. Alternatively, a substantially transparent wrapper can have a low level of transparency but still transmit sufficient light so that the indicator can be seen through the wrapper.

  The thickness of the substantially transparent wrapper is preferably at least about 25 micrometers, more preferably at least about 35 micrometers, and most preferably about 40 micrometers. Additionally or alternatively, the thickness is preferably less than about 110 micrometers, more preferably less than about 80 micrometers. The thickness is preferably from about 25 micrometers to about 110 micrometers, more preferably from about 35 micrometers to about 110 micrometers, and most preferably from about micrometer to about 80 micrometers. The basis weight of the substantially transparent wrapper is preferably at least about 40 grams / square meter (gsm), more preferably from about 40 gsm to about 80 gsm, and most preferably from about 40 gsm to about 60 gsm. Suitable materials for use as the substantially transparent wrapper of the smoking article according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, cellophane, cellulose diacetate, and polypropylene. Different grades, thicknesses, and basis weights of suitable substantially transparent materials are commercially available from a variety of sources. For example, Inobia Film Limited and Clarifoil make a variety of different types and grades of such materials.

  A smoking article according to the present invention may be a burning smoking article such as a filtered cigarette or other smoking article in which tobacco material or another combustible material burns to produce smoke. Alternatively, the smoking article according to the present invention can be nonflammable. As an example, a non-flammable smoking article can include a material that is heated to produce an aerosol rather than combustion. In one type of heated smoking article, tobacco material or another aerosol generating material is heated with one or more electrical heating elements to generate an aerosol. In another type of heated smoking article, the aerosol is generated by heat transfer to an aerosol generating material physically away from the flammable or chemical heat source, which is located within, around, or downstream of the heat source. can do.

  Alternatively, the filter according to the present invention can be used to remove nicotine-containing aerosols from tobacco materials or other nicotine sources, rather than combustion and heating, as disclosed in WO2008 / 121610 and WO2010 / 107613. It can be incorporated into the resulting smoking article.

  If the smoking article is non-flammable, the wrapper may be a tube that forms the labial end cavity of the smoking article. For example, the wrapper can be a plastic tube. In addition, any internal structure within the tube can be integrated with the tube, or placed and secured within the tube.

  The present invention further provides a method of manufacturing a mouthpiece for a smoking article as described herein. The method comprises the steps of providing a wrapper sheet material to which one or more indicators have been added, providing a plurality of filter elements, and one or more indicators between two adjacent filter elements. Disposing the filter element on the wrapper sheet material to space the filter elements, and so that the wrapper sheet material forms a labial end cavity having an index disposed in the labial end cavity; Wrapping the wrapper sheet material around a portion of the filter element. The mouthpiece produced in this process can then be cut along the lip end cavity to create a separate filter to expose the lip end cavity.

  In some embodiments, the method produces a mouthpiece that includes all of the more than one mouthpiece or filter elements. This is often called multiple inlet or multiple filter. If the multiple filter includes all of the elements of the two filters, the multiple filter can be referred to as a double filter. Other multiple filters, such as a quadruple filter, can be manufactured.

  The mouthpiece or filter can then be combined with a packaged tobacco rod or other type of smoking article aerosol generating carrier. For example, a tip wrapper may be provided and wrapped around all or a portion of the mouthpiece and a portion of the adjacent tobacco rod to connect the mouthpiece and the tobacco rod to provide an assembled smoking article. If the process uses multiple filters, then the labial end cavity portion of the multiple filter can be cut off to create two or more finished smoking articles, exposing the labial end cavity. Combining the mouthpiece or filter with the packaged tobacco rod or other type of aerosol generating carrier can be performed online or offline on a machine separate from the mouthpiece production machine.

  The indicator can be printed continuously on the wrapper, and in this embodiment, it is not necessary to position the filter element relative to the print indicator. In another embodiment, the indicia are discretely printed and spaced so that one or more indicia are located in the aforementioned labial end cavity. In this embodiment, it is necessary to align the wrapper and the filter element so that the index can be seen in the lip side end cavity. Preferably, the position of one or more indicators is aligned using an optical device to allow positioning of each indicator.

  The indicator can be printed on the wrapper online or offline. As used herein, the term online means performing indicator printing as a step in the manufacture of a mouthpiece or smoking article. The term offline means performing indicator printing as a separate process. In the case of off-line printing, this process can be performed using a separate machine in the same manufacturing plant as the manufacture of the mouthpiece or smoking article. Alternatively, off-line printing can be performed using a separate machine at a location separate from the production of the mouthpiece or smoking article.

  The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a smoking article having a labial end cavity according to the present invention. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a smoking article according to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a wrapper according to the invention with discrete indicators added to the inner surface.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a smoking article 100 that includes a filter segment 102, a tobacco rod 104, and a labial end cavity 106. It can be seen that the labial end cavity 106 has an indicator in the form of text on the inside in certain embodiments. The text is oriented so that the smoker can read the text when holding the smoking article in the usual way. Similarly, the direction is determined in the same manner when the index is a graph or the like. The smoking article has a diameter of about 7.85 mm and a length of about 84 mm. The mouthpiece 101 including the labial end cavity 106 and the filter segment 102 has a length of about 32 mm. The labial end cavity has a depth of about 5 mm and a diameter of about 7.45 mm. Thus, the inner surface area of the wrapper that defines the cavity is approximately 117 m ² , the total surface area of the mouthpiece that can be used to display the indicators and the like is 874 mm ² , and the inner surface area of the wrapper that defines the cavity is the mouthpiece About 13% of the total visible surface area.

  FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a smoking article according to the present invention. The smoking article comprises tobacco rod 104, ie any other type of aerosol generating carrier containing tobacco material or nicotine-containing material, mouthpiece 101, and tip paper 202 used to join tobacco rod 104 to mouthpiece 101. including. The mouthpiece 101 includes a labial end cavity 106 defined by a wrapper 212 and chip paper 202. The inlet also includes two filter segments 204 and 206. Each filter segment is wrapped with a respective plug wrap 208 and 210. Venting means in the form of perforations 214 is provided in the mouthpiece 101 upstream of the lip side end cavity. In this embodiment, perforations 214 are provided adjacent to filter segment 204 and extend through plug wrap 208, wrapper 212, and tip paper 202. Alternatively, if the plug wrap 206 is porous, the perforations can only extend through the wrapper 212 and the tip paper 202. Further, if the wrapper 212 is porous, the perforations can extend through only the tip paper 202.

  The labial end cavity provides an inner area for the indicator to be displayed. The index or the like is printed on the inner surface of the wrapper 212.

  The wrapper 212 has a basis weight of about 70 gsm and provides sufficient rigidity so that the labial end cavity 106 does not collapse during smoking of the smoking article.

  FIG. 3 shows the inner surface of the wrapper 204 with discrete indicators 300 printed in a repeating pattern. During continuous manufacture of the mouthpiece, the wrapper sheet material 212 having preprinted indicators receives the filter segment wrapped in the plug wrap and forms a finished mouthpiece having a labial end cavity. The filter segments are disposed on the wrapper sheet material such that each set of filter segments is spaced from an indicator disposed in the open space. An optical alignment device can be used to ensure that the filter segment is aligned with the indicator. The manufacturing equipment is designed to cut two suction ports into a set. A pair of two mouthpieces are joined at the lip side end. The length of the double inlet is suitable for use with standard cigarette manufacturing equipment.

  The tobacco rod is arranged in a state of axial alignment with the suction port at the suction end opposite to the lip side end cavity, and is attached to the suction port using chip paper. The tip paper and wrapper sheet material is cut along line AA so that a portion of the wrapper including one or more indicators extends beyond the filter segment of each mouthpiece to define the labial end cavity. It has become.

  Although the specific embodiments described above relate to a smoking article that includes a filter and a tobacco rod, it is understood that a similar arrangement of the labial end cavities can also be used for the non-flammable smoking article described above. Will.

100 Smoking article 101 Mouthpiece 102 Filter segment 104 Tobacco rod 106 Lip side end cavity

Claims (15)

Tobacco rod,
At least one segment and a wrapper surrounding the at least one segment and defining a labial end cavity, in axial alignment with the tobacco rod and adjacent to the tobacco rod and the rod end A mouthpiece having an opposite lip side end;
A smoking article comprising:
A smoking article, wherein one or more indicators are disposed on an inner surface of the portion of the wrapper that defines the labial end cavity.   The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the wrapper including the one or more indicators is a plug wrapper.   The smoking article according to claim 2, further comprising a tip wrapper that surrounds the mouthpiece and connects the mouthpiece and the tobacco rod.   The smoking article of claim 3, wherein the tip wrapper extends beyond at least one segment of the mouthpiece so as to overlap a portion of the plug wrap defining the labial end cavity.   The plug wrap including the one or more indicators extends partway along the length of the mouthpiece from the lip side end so that a part of the mouthpiece of the rod end is not covered with the plug wrap. The smoking article according to any one of claims 2 to 4.   The smoking article according to claim 5, wherein the smoking article includes a ventilation zone positioned at a portion of the mouthpiece that is not covered by the plug wrap.   The smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the wrapper including the one or more indicators is a chip paper that surrounds the suction port and connects the suction port and the tobacco rod.   The mouthpiece is first wrapped with a substantially transparent plug wrap and the tip paper is wrapped around the substantially transparent plug wrap so that the indicator is visible through the substantially transparent plug wrap The smoking article according to claim 7.   9. A smoking article according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one segment comprises a filter comprising one or more filter segments.   The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein an additional index is provided on an outer surface of the mouthpiece.   The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the index of the lip side end cavity is a discrete index aligned in the lip side end cavity.   The smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the indicator of the lip side end cavity is a continuous pattern or image printed in the lip side end cavity. A method of manufacturing a mouthpiece for a smoking article,
Providing a wrapper sheet material with one or more indicators added thereto;
Providing a plurality of filter elements;
Placing the filter element on the wrapper sheet material such that the filter element is spaced by one or more indicators between two adjacent filter elements;
Wrapping the wrapper sheet material around a portion of the filter element such that the wrapper sheet material forms a lip end cavity having an index disposed in the lip end cavity;
Including methods.   14. The method of claim 13, wherein an optical device is used to align the position of the one or more indicia to allow positioning of each mouthpiece adjacent to the index.   15. The step of adding the one or more indicators to the wrapper sheet material online in a step prior to providing the wrapper sheet material with the one or more indicators added thereto. The method described in 1.

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