JPS60501637A - improved cigarette filter - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] name of invention improved cigarette filter Technical field FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to filter devices, and in particular to cigarette smoke filter elements. Furthermore, books The product of the invention is a cigarette (1 cigar).

Generally used for other filter applications, particularly in cigarette smoking devices, whether pipe tobacco or the like. However, the idea of the present invention mainly relates to filter devices for cigarettes. Ru. This filter for cigarettes is of particular commercial importance and is therefore the basis of the invention. Embodiments are discussed as they relate to the production of filter cigarettes. I decided to do it.

Background technology In the production of cigarette smoking filters used in connection with cigarettes, etc., plastic Cellulose acetate fiber that has been subjected to chemical treatment.

substantially continuous such as polyethylene fibers, polypropylene fibers, nylon fibers, etc. Until now, bondable continuous filament tows of thermoplastic fibers have been the starting material. It has been used as. Terms as used in the text and claims [Continuous filament tow] refers to filaments extruded from multiple spinnerets. continuous fibrous bodies joined together and randomly oriented primarily in the longitudinal direction refers to materials such as those produced when forming. In such tows, the filler The members are generally substantially parallel and generally longitudinally aligned; form short sections that extend more or less randomly in directions of divergence and convergence without parallelism Contains parts that may be crimped. The process of the present invention is of this type. It can be applied to a variety of filamentary materials, including plasticized cellulose. -acetate is the most commonly used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. Since it is a fiber of high quality, its specifications will be described in general with reference to this material. do.

However, the idea of the present invention should not be limited to such preferred embodiments. stomach.

In manufacturing filters for cigarettes, etc., many different factors must be considered. No. Filtration efficiency, the ability to remove undesirable components from smoke, is the commercial is the only highly desirable factor that is important in the production of filters that are universally acceptable. Ru. pressure drop.

Other factors such as flavor, hardness and cost also affect the commercial evaluation of such products. Determine. For example, it is most commonly used in the manufacture of cigarette filters. One such material, cellulose acetate, has relatively low filtration efficiency. Se The increase in filtration efficiency achieved by the density or length of the lulose acetate fibers is There is a risk of pressure drop at both ends of the filter, and if this becomes large, Commercially unacceptable. Activated carbon or other similar with relatively high filtration efficiency The use of such materials can increase costs and significantly impair flavor.

In recent years, dilution with air has been developed at sufficiently low pressures to be commercially acceptable. A common method for compensating for the relatively low filtration efficiency of cigarette filters It became a method. In this method, ventilation is induced around the filter and the cigarette By diluting the stream of smoke from - inhaled during the smoker's day with each puff Reduces the amount of tar and other undesirable tobacco components.

The air dilution method offers several distinct advantages. That is, this is generally A very economical method for reducing various in-phase components of cigarette smoke called It's a method.

This method also uses - certain gas phase components of cigarette smoke such as carbon oxides and nitrogen oxides; allows for the elimination or reduction of

- Efficiency and efficiency can be improved by varying the amount of air drawn into the filter with each This allows for reasonable control of the filtration process to the extent that it balances flavor and taste.

One of the main concerns for the cigarette filter industry is the use of air dilution methods. filters and filters for quick mass production of low-cost filters. The task was to design a manufacturing method and manufacturing equipment for the filter. Air dilution method was the first commercial When it comes to business requirements, most cigarette lighter filters are dimensionally safe. To obtain a consistent product, surround the outside of the east of the filament that makes up the filter element. It was manufactured using materials. This manufacturing process is called a "plug lamp". An axially long rod consisting of a filament core held by surrounding surrounding material. It was intended to adjust the head. Using the filter rod as a cigarette filter After being cut into small pieces or plugs suitable for use, the paper wrapper of the cigarette is The paper surrounding the mouthpiece (lamp) is attached to the cigarette column that forms the core of the cigarette, which is surrounded by the above-mentioned section. to be fixed. Cigarette filter manufactured by the above method using the air dilution method The suction lamp passes through selectively provided perforations in the suction lamp. The porous structure allows the air to join with the smoke coming in from the cigarette column and dilute it. Requires a quality or transparent plug wrap.

Regarding the use of plugs and lamps, the subject matter is included in the text for reference only. U.S. Patent Nos. 11, 1967 and 98, 1968, cited above. 3,313.306 and 3,377.220 in some detail. Unenclosed dimensionally stable fi elds have certain disadvantages that are commonly discussed. A method had been developed for manufacturing Ruta elements. A1 legally stable without enclosing part The importance of manufacturing filters with = 1st stroke U7 and diluted with air Shigato Nodo Q Thick.

The above-mentioned U.S. patents and related patents assigned to the same assignee as the present application have been disclosed. ``Method L for forming a dimensionally stable filter lower F without a surrounding part'', ” L always, two effective. Today, the best known for making second, L eel. It is the law. Continuous linemen 1 - [one staple fiber or grain shape The filter material, which may be in the form of into the filter material, which no longer requires a plug lamp. An endless porous heddle that secures it in a dimensionally stable lot inside the processing equipment. transported. Therefore, two advantages can be obtained from such a highly desirable method. It will be done. That is, removing the plug wrap (deletion of the important L of q), and removing the plug wrap. The material cost of the wrap itself is eliminated to 1, but the latter is a filter that undergoes air dilution. High cost of porous plugs and lamps required for use with cigarette lighters and throats This is especially important when taking into account the

The endless heald method for the formation of filters without envelopment has recently gained widespread commercial use. Although it has been of interest, there are many disadvantages in its use. steam and sky The woven nature of the endless heald required to provide porosity to air To prevent this, press the textured plate of Helll- on the surface of the filter rod to loosen the fibers. This will eliminate the effect of the mouthpiece paper sticking to the filter element. Ru. The forming belt itself must undergo the steam infiltration process necessary to form a legally stable product. 7, and Hell 1 becomes fatigued and must be replaced, reducing the efficiency of the machine. However, the belt replacement] process results in a filter lot production line It will be a downtime in the middle of the day, and it will be the second one.

In this way, there is a Removal of rule 1- would be desirable for obvious reasons. Furthermore, this held , in small filaments during processing, as explained in the above-mentioned US patent. This creates undesirable tension in the filament and reduces the crimping initially present in the filament. A system for manufacturing ``Rono'' with dimensions, shapes, and functional characteristics that are difficult to control. The filament tow is the most desirable commercial filter material through the stem. It was introduced to eliminate the need for "pulling".

``Pull'' the tow through the system or ``transport'' the tow into the system. A highly desirable alternative to the use of belts is to guide the tow through the system. Sea urchin [extrusion-1] The pneumatic method for forming 6 fibrous bodies is the subject of the The same assignment, published April 11, 1965, is cited for reference in the text for the full text. No. 3,313,665, assigned to Assignee. This method In some cases, air under pressure or other supply gas is used to seal the tow in a sealed section. During this section, the gas is used to secure the product against the lot. It is heated and cooled. Furthermore, this technique has certain features that will be discussed in more detail below. This allows the rearrangement of individual fibers across the longitudinal dimension of the rod, which is characteristic. rice The process disclosed in National Patent No. 3.313,665-υ is based on felt tip It has found great commercial use in the manufacture of relatively large diameter leads 1 for pens, etc. However, fibrous materials were made through the system shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,313.665. Due to the difficulty of dissipating the large amounts of air required for propulsion, much smaller diameter Shigashi So I... It was completely unsuitable for manufacturing filter elements.

In contrast to the case with cigarette fill cartridges, they usually have a diameter of about 8 liters. have

If the confined section is relatively large, as in prior art processes, the feed gas may be Because of the large circumference, it is possible to substantially dissipate the gas through the relatively short length of the porous region. can. However, in order to ensure uniform fixation, steam is applied in a transverse direction to the core of the tow. At least a large portion of the air is removed prior to the introduction of steam, etc. to allow It is necessary to exclude. Peripheral polygons on the walls of the elements that define the closed section Expanding the aperture section provided by the numerical aperture 1 means that these apertures This is undesirable because it can get caught and cause tangles within the processing line. Once the tow comes into contact with steam, When touched, the tow shrinks slightly from the wall of the sealed section and becomes slightly lubricated. Alleviate the problems mentioned above.

Therefore, minimizing the problem of dissipation in conventional techniques, which was not possible until now. If the amount of air can be significantly reduced compared to the amount required for of steam prior to the introduction of cooling air, in contrast to the almost immediate cooling step of the Compensation is achieved by extra residence time and sufficient transverse realignment of the fibers in the presence of Failure to do so may result in uneven adhesion in the core of the tow. If it is possible to dissipate a certain amount of air after the introduction of a certain vapor, then the cigarette filler The application of pneumatic feeding methods to the production of small diameter lots such as Ruta lots can be achieved. Ru. Shigashi, soto, and fill that exceeds 75 m/min and reaches approximately 500 m/min or more In the high-speed production lines required for commercial production of Tarot, such Enhancement of residence time is of particular importance.

For the high speed production requirements of a commercial cigarette filter production line, see 1. It is also extremely difficult to produce multiple filter lots simultaneously from one 1-C material. This is desirable. The traditional approach is to , the resulting product is generally relatively rigid in its longitudinal dimension. Yes, it is also possible to make only one rod in the line from one starting tow. This is because it cannot be bent from its main direction of movement while still being damaged. No further treatment was possible. Adjustment of products with lateral flexibility, continuously formed As is common practice in the industry, one filter element is (which can be a multiple of Allows you to reorient multiple lots that have been removed. individual fibers into lots mutually in generally continuous layers extending generally transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rod. By adjusting the product to a positional relationship that is approximately adjacent to and superimposed on the Lateral bending is possible within certain limits for the processing of This is a very important characteristic that enhances the air dilution properties of the filter. The lateral air flow resistance will be reduced relative to the longitudinal flow resistance.

Regarding the lateral arrangement of fibers in cigarette filters, same assignee, published January 4, 1971, the entire contents of which are cited in the text by reference. No. 3,552,400, assigned to . But this This product requires enclosing measures, which may cause difficulties in handling loose fibers, etc. Stable fibers that are not continuous filament tows pose other disadvantages. Formed from a bar.

Regarding the lateral arrangement of fibers in a continuous filament tow, Patent Application No. 28359 (published on April 28, 1978) and European Patent Application No. 28359 (published on April 28, 1978) It is disclosed in Patent Application No. 0018188 (published on October 29, 1980).

The manufacturing techniques described in these documents provide a ratio of at least 6:1 and generally 10:1. Requires a ratio of tow charging speed to filter lot withdrawal speed that exceeds Ru. As a result, the charge tow material lacks filling properties to cover the walls of the forming tube. I will do it. Therefore, this material tends to form in one area. , resulting in a circular pattern around the forming tube. For this reason, This results in uneven layers of undesirable density in the final product. More importantly, this These methods show that during the high production rate of attaching the mouthpiece wrap paper to the bamboo, the mouthpiece lamp is This results in a product with an uneven surface that does not adhere well. like this The uneven surface clearly shows the radial formation of successive 1806 folded tows. It arises from the fact that it originates from an edge extending in the direction. In any case, the mouthpiece For sufficient adhesion of the plug, apply a coating to the filter, i.e. plug wrap. This increases the cost of manufacturing the product.

Disclosure of invention To this end, the present invention provides a novel method particularly suitable for use in cigarette filter elements. The present invention relates to a fibrous body.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a mouthpiece which is fixed together in a self-supporting manner throughout and Virtually continuous with a smooth surface to which the lamp can be easily and reliably fixed A porous dimensional structure consisting of continuous filament tows of thermoplastic fibers The objective is to provide a stable axially long fibrous body.

The affixed fibers are generally continuous fibers extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fibrous body. The fibers are arranged within the fibrous body in mutually adjacent and overlapping relationship in layers.

The circumference of this body extends axially rearwards (immediately around the individual axes approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the filter lot). It is formed by bending it to provide a smooth surface.

The fibrous body has a uniform cross-sectional diameter of approximately 81 m and a ratio of 100 m to 50 m to improve the adhesion properties. It has a relatively smooth peripheral surface and provides commercially acceptable handling hardness and feel. However, it exhibits lateral visibility and requires relatively little material for a given pressure drop. However, it has a relatively high filtration efficiency considering its weight, and this body part is used as a cigarette smoker. It shall be suitable for use as a filter.

The above and other objects of the present invention provide that the carrier gas at a specified angle within a closed chamber is The continuous filament tow is subjected to pneumatic action by a jet that supplies air. This is achieved by transporting more. The air pulls the continuous filament tow To create a Hentschuri effect that draws the chamber into the closed chamber, a tow is It is preferable that the charge be placed in an annular manner around the . Air by jet against a closed room In order to use a particularly small acute angle for the charging angle, preferably between 0 and 20°, this for conveying a certain amount of filament tow than in the equipment available up to now. It is necessary to significantly reduce the amount of carrier gas required. Much less transport gas Since the fibrous body formed inside the closed chamber is used as a cigarette filter, This can require a chamber cross section so large as to render it unsuitable for commercial use. in the cooling area The pneumatic action combined with the small cross-section of the Bend at right angles to the adaxial center. The fiber structure of the filter thus formed is The structure substantially overlaps and extends the longitudinal axis of the filter rod being formed. It becomes a state of crossing. This fiber has a positional relationship in which it polymerizes in the lateral direction. The fibrous layer is cured using steam or other heated gas in a preferred embodiment. In some cases, long steam soaking chambers and small cross-sections are used before extruding the lot from the equipment. Further solidification is achieved using a cooled cooling section. Because the formed body is extruded, the fi The lament material is in a relaxed state and maintains its complementary shape. In addition, the side of the charging tow By extruding the filter lot at a linear feed rate less than A wire condition is imparted to the fiber. Furthermore, the material is sealed with a small cross section. The filter is pressed against the wall of the cooling zone, which allows the filter to be precisely sized and shaped. can be easily maintained. small cross section of the cooling area, at the edge of the filter axially rearward (i.e., around the axis approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the filter rod) ) to provide a smooth circumferential surface that allows for secure bending of the lamp material. .

The product formed by this method is a continuous fiber whose folded edges are folded back. Since the filter rod is made from Almost no protruding ends or fibers are exposed. Important words in this invention The process and apparatus disclosed herein make the use of filaments I. It can be divided into several parts, each part being an individual log. can be sent to the cut forming station. Additionally, the process disclosed in the text More manufactured filter lots can be bent without breaking Therefore, subsequent processing of the filter elements in the filter lot is performed at the rod forming station. be carried out at a number of stations located perpendicular to the output end of the Can be done. However, the processing of the filter lot is approximately between the lofting station and the It should be kept in mind that this can be done at each station in the line. .

Another effect of the lateral arrangement of fibers in the filter loft is the air flow so that the resistance of Ru. Conventional filter elements have low resistance to longitudinal flow and It has a relatively large resistance to the flow of water. However, produced by this method The filter presents a relatively large resistance to flow across its length. this Since it has a relatively large resistance in the longitudinal direction, it has the same pressure drop resistance It is possible to save up to 40% of the weight of the filter manufactured by the above method. Furthermore, The lower resistance to flow across the width of the filter makes it easier to In order to achieve the same amount of air dilution as the air dilution filter produced using this method, For filters that can be used, fewer perforations are required in the mouthpiece paper. . Another advantage of the low resistance to flow across the width of the filter is that it The smoke is much more uniformly roasted than with the ruta, but this is because - This is thought to be because it brings about a reduction in gas phase components such as smoke.

The specific conveying jets used in the present invention are necessary due to filter failure. This significantly reduces the amount of gas used for transportation. Used in conventional pneumatic processes Savings of 5o to 85% were achieved compared to standard jets. the important thing is, Since the process of the present invention uses pneumatically actuated devices, heald and belt drives , as well as the additions required for both in the manufacturing process of filters with other enclosing measures. The efficiency of the machine is improved by eliminating the need for associated maintenance.

A further advantage of the invention lies in its versatility. Jet by changing conveyor jet input. Maintaining a constant yield of fibrous bodies formed by cutting or vice versa This alone allows the production of filters with a range of pressure drops.

Perhaps the most unexpected benefit of the inventive concept is the weight savings over all other conventional The technology shows no improvement in filtration efficiency, or a significant loss in filtration efficiency. This method improves filtration efficiency while using less material per unit volume, that is, lighter weight material. The result lies in the manufacture of the filter element.

Brief description of the drawing The present invention refers to the following detailed description with respect to the drawings with the above discussion in mind. This will help you understand it better.

Figure 1 clearly shows a filtered cigarette incorporating a filter element according to the invention. FIG.

FIGS. 2 and 3 each illustrate a vertical view of a filter lot formed according to the present invention. The cross-sectional and end views, FIGS. 4 and 5, are similar illustrations of conventional filter lots. FIG. 6 shows a preferred manufacturing line for manufacturing a filter rod according to the present invention. Floor plan of the inn, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of the production line. figure, FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the lot forming station; 10 shows a detailed perspective view of a filter element according to the invention, and FIG. Figures 2 and 13 show the drawn-out filters and filters in the apparatus of Figures 6 to 9. ・Flats manufactured at different ratios of the average linear velocity of the charging tow to the lot. 10 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a tenth filter element, each showing a filter element; FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Like reference numbers indicate similar parts in several drawings.

Referring generally to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, a filter cigarette according to the invention is shown. is generally indicated by the reference number 10, and basically the conventional Consisting of a tobacco rod 12 and a filter plug 14 fixed together in a manner There is. For air diluted filter cigarettes, the suction knob is a well-known method. A space between the surroundings that acts to introduce ambient air into the surrounding area for mixing with cigarette smoke. It has a large number of perforations 18 spaced apart.

The filter plug of the present invention, shown schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3, is self-supporting. having a substantially continuous thermofusible property fixed integrally throughout its entirety so as to Porous, dimensionally stable axially formed from continuous filament tows of fibers The fibers are filtered in the filter plug 14. adjacent to each other in generally continuous layers extending generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the element In addition, they are arranged in a positional relationship that allows them to polymerize. As shown schematically in Figures 2 and 3. This polymeric layer, which has been applied to It should be understood that this is the result of Such a polymeric layer is conventionally Mainly in the longitudinal direction as indicated by the number 20 in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the technique. In contrast to randomly oriented continuous fibrous bodies.

Also, these drawings are schematic diagrams, and the actual individual filaments may be somewhat similar. crimped sections that form short sections that are not chaotically parallel but extend in divergent and convergent directions The filament contact points provide a labyrinth of flues along the entire length of the filter. It is emphasized that they are affixed together to form a porous or permeable element.

The fibers extend within the filter element in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the element. FIG. and the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3 provides a resulting product with many unique properties. It is something that brings. Depending on the density of the layer formed by the technique of the present invention, the present filament In contrast to prior art filter elements, filter elements are It has a significantly large flow resistance in the air and smoke mixture, which makes it difficult to ventilate the mixture of air and smoke. This allows for a relatively large air to smoke ratio. In a configuration like this This allows a relatively large dilution in the filter element itself. pressure drop can be obtained. Furthermore, as a result described in more detail below, As a result, many filter elements are joined together with their ends aligned with each other. The rod is relatively weak when subjected to tension at its ends, but this kind of acting force is It is rarely encountered during processing and use of such products. but , filter lots or individual filter elements have sufficient "hardness" i.e. traditional lateral surfaces such as those encountered in lett making equipment or on the smoker's lips during smoking. It has strength in the direction of Additionally, long lots can be processed in the manner described in more detail below. To facilitate forming many filter lots simultaneously from a single tow , can be curved. Furthermore, in FIGS. 10 to 13, As shown, the periphery 15 of the filter plug 14 is shaped to provide a smooth surface. It is formed from the outwardly folded edges of the fibers which are folded into each other. Furthermore, the filter During lot manufacturing, the lot is axially rearwardly disposed around its circumference, as detailed below. It is inserted longitudinally into a cooling section of small folding section. In other words, lot The individual folded edges of the fibers at the periphery of the Folded around individual axes. Such a bent edge creates a smooth circumferential surface. provide. This smooth surface eliminates the rubbing problems of conventional technology and is ideal during production speed operations. However, it enables reliable adhesion to absorbent materials.

Next, the desired method for manufacturing filter lots and filter elements of the present invention is described. Reference will now be made to FIGS. 6-9, which schematically show the method and apparatus. overall manufacturing la The inn is indicated in its entirety by reference number 30 in Figures 6 and 8; The section uses conventional techniques and equipment for many of the steps. Tow 32 is a conventional from the packaging (not shown) to a conventional tow preparation station 34 and then to number 36. A conventional hand forming jet is shown more schematically and shown schematically at 38 Sent to plasticizer applicator. Using tow of cellulose acetate, Conventionally well-known plasticizers such as cetine can be used to create a plasticizing cavity for hand-shaped tow. It is sprayed in a known manner within the net 38. The idea of the present invention is that a continuous filament can be used to form a single lot from 40 tows, but in the drawings 40 To further process the tow 32, a plurality of tow portions 32a, 32b, From a single tow by dividing into 32c, 32d, 32e, 32f 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of forming multiple filter lots. There are 6 toes Although the present invention is shown as being divided into two parts, this description can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It will be appreciated that more or less tow portions can be used.

The individual tow parts are all marked by reference numbers 45a-45f by roll 42.44. provided for the lot forming station physically shown, but one detail thereof; This will be explained below with reference to FIG.

The resulting rods 46a-46f are indicated generally by reference numbers and Schematically shown as a pair of endless belts 48a, 48b by a tensioning device, a reference number is 50 to a known cutting device generally indicated by 50, where a filter and a The lots are aired in a particularly tufted form in Figure 7; The sheets are held in individually spaced relationship with each other and a known cutting process is performed. It will be done. At this time, the rods 32a to 32f are a single filter plug.

double filter plug or previously used in cigarette making machinery a number of predetermined substantially equal lengths equal to various filter plug lengths such as The sections can be cut transversely at the same time.

Following this cutting process, each group of sections is placed at a collection or packaging station (as shown). pneumatically conveyed via separate tubular conduits 52a to 52f to It will be done. The air pipes 52a to 52'f are connected to the pipes using a conventionally well-known pneumatic technique. conveying the sections or elements described in Section 2 "inside the road", but there is no need to explain them in further detail. .

Next, with reference to FIG. A detailed description of the station will be provided. The display in Figure 9 is rod forming bag W 45 It will be appreciated that this applies equally to any of a to 45f.

The rod forming bag N45 basically contains at least the following over its entire length: As will be explained in more detail below, the cross-sectional dimensions are approximately uniform up to the point where the cooling gas is introduced. an elongated hollow member 60 defining therein an elongated enclosed area having a shape and shape. Ru.

If necessary, the inner walls of this enclosed area may be made of polytetra to reduce internal frictional effects. May also be coated with lafluoroethylene (Teflon) or other comparable materials. Wear.

The tow 32 is provided by a unique tow feeding device indicated generally by reference numeral 64. The hollow member 60 is charged into the charging end 62 by pneumatic action. Tow charging means That is, the jet 64 has a cross-sectional size and shape that corresponds to the sealed section inside the hollow member 60. an elongate tubular member 66 having a slightly smaller bore; End 68 enters inlet end 62 of hollow member 60 . Air under pressure is desired New charge gas is charged to the tow charging device 64 via line 70, which communicates with an annular passage 72 arranged concentrically around the tubular member 66, and its protruding end at about 0 to 20°, preferably about 10° to the longitudinal axis of the sealed section. pneumatically actuates the tow approximately in the direction between the tow 32 and through the sealed section. at a sufficiently high charging rate to ensure that the gas is conveyed by A charging device high enough to allow the majority of the volume to flow out, and a tow charging device 6 4 along the porous area 74 of the hollow member downstream of the hollow part with a large velocity. The inner closed section of the material 60 terminates in a henchuri portion into the inlet end 62 of the closed section.

The porous region 74 of the hollow member 60 is formed using the unique preferred jets 64 of the present invention. Since the amount of charge gas required is relatively small, most of the charge gas, preferably Almost the entire amount can be eliminated. At this point, the subsequent processing steps are uniform. To be able to form fixed continuous lots, lot forming equipment is required. It is important to eliminate substantially all of the charge gas in the equipment. Prior art devices and If this method is used, it is usually used as a cigarette filter of about 8 yen. In production of small diameter lots, such as those required for It has been impossible to effectively dissipate relatively large amounts of. U.S. Patent No. For the manufacture of relatively large diameter products of the type shown in No. 3,313,665. Compared to Due to the small circumference of the hollow member, the number of gas dissipation holes is small in the length of the hollow member. becomes less. The longitudinally extending porous portion has holes or perforations that are flat. Attempts to loosen or bind filament tows result in production line stoppages. In this respect, production processes tend to produce rough inner surfaces in hollow parts. This is particularly disadvantageous. In the present invention, the angle of the charging gas around the charging hole is very shallow. A unique jet 64 pneumatically transports the tow through a closed section. A substantially smaller amount of gas is required to achieve this, allowing dissipation through a relatively short porous section. make it possible.

The jet 64 is located at the inlet end 62 of the closed section inside the hollow member 60. It acts to suck C32 into the sealed section at a speed proportional to the gas charging speed. creates a suction effect. Loft shape of the charging tow fed against the inlet end of the closed section This formation substantially prevents the charge gas from leaking backwards through the charge tow. It is desirable that the density is sufficient so that the

After passing through the porous region 74, where at least a large portion of the charge gas is dissipated, the tow is heated. A heating station comprising a device for introducing hot gas, preferably steam, into the tow 76, the heat causes the tow to set in a well known manner. steam under pressure is introduced into a number of surrounding passageways 80 via conduits such as those shown at 78 to Simultaneously center the tow in the closed section in the member 60 with respect to the direction of movement of the tow. It is desirable to place it in 2. At least a large portion of the steam condenses on contact with the tow. The tow can be compressed and fixed at the contact points of the individual filaments in a known manner. give the necessary heat.

Particularly at the high production rates used commercially, the pressure of the closed section of the hollow member 60 the toe for a sufficient period of time to allow uniform contact over substantially the entire cross-section of the toe. It is very important to keep the water in contact with the steam. For this purpose, steam l. in the form of an elongated section of the hollow member 60 downstream of the station 76 Two soaking stations 82 are provided. Soaking this toe The station 82 is configured to detect the true center of the tow inside the sealed section prior to the rod fixing procedure. Extended residence in contact with the vapor to allow the vapor to penetrate Give your time. The preferred residence time is at least about 0.1 seconds, preferably It was found that 0.2 to 0.5 seconds was required. U.S. Patent No. 3,313,66, supra. The conventional technology as shown in No. 5 is not sufficient for relatively low speed production. However, it is well over 75 m/min and 500 m/min, which is possible with the idea of the present invention. At a speed of 1, complete immersion of the steam to the center of the tow in the closed section is achieved. Fixation of the tow took place almost immediately after contact with the steam, which was impossible to penetrate.

After sufficient soaking of the tow with steam, the tow is heated with a cooling gas such as air. 1, which has a predetermined final cross-sectional dimension and shape. Overall with reference number 84 for fastening to free-standing, dimensionally stable filter rods is pushed through the device shown in . In the illustrated embodiment, cooling The stations 84 each provide cooling gas simultaneously relative to the direction of tow movement. Conduit 90 communicating with a number of circumferential openings 94,96 arranged to receive gas. ．． 92 is divided into primary and secondary cooling bags N86.88.

Despite the parallel flow direction of the cooling gas, it may slow down or tighten the production process. It has been found that a back pressure can be created by the cooling gas in the closed section of the hollow member 60. . In order to alleviate this problem, it is preferable that the inside of the hollow member 60 be 1 immediately before the first cooling station 86 and immediately after the heating station 76 of the section. More than one further porous region 98.100 can be provided. This place of production line By providing a porous area at the point, the steam acts as a lubricant to the tow. The problem is reduced by the porous station 74 prior to the introduction of steam, and Slightly retract the tow from the sidewall surface, thereby reducing the tow due to the rough interior of the porous area. Entanglement can be avoided.

The closed section defined by the inside of the cooling station 86,88 is the cross-section of the final product. A closed area inside the hollow member 60 in front of the cooling station, equal in size and shape. Slightly smaller in cross-sectional dimension than between. This configuration prevents the toe from sticking. Allows determination of the final dimensions of the product in the cooling station when cooling The slight resistance provided at the station and the tow at the steam ring 76 Because of the relatively flexible nature of the tow after it has been heated, the tow soaking device 82 This results in a secondary filling action of the filaments of the tow in the tow. Furthermore, the cooling station Due to the shrinkage of the cross section at Form the smooth outer surface mentioned above.

Thus, after passing through cooling station 84, the tow is pulled for further processing. exhibiting a predetermined cross-sectional size and shape that can be provided by tensioning device 48 Formed into a self-supporting dimensionally stable filter rod. formed like this Because of the relatively large flexibility of the rods, these rods are shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. A single cutter head 50 is curved slightly for further handling. It becomes possible to send it by

Filter r'-1 is fed to the inlet end 62 of the sealed section inside the hollow member 60. At an average linear velocity smaller than that of the charged tow, the tow forming station pulled out from the container. Charge in which the filter rod is fed into the inlet end of said closed section When drawn at an average linear velocity smaller than that of the tow, the fibers are mutually within two substantially continuous layers extending substantially transversely to the direction of fiber movement at the They are rearranged within the closed section so as to be in an adjacent and overlapping positional relationship.

This rearrangement initially occurs before the gas comes into contact with the heated gas, and also at the cooling station. When the layer has a slightly contracted cross-section, the layer is further bonded by contact with a cooling gas. The tow is then fixed at soaking station 82. The result is products that easily provide greater resistance to flow in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction This allows the final filter plug to be shown in Figure 1 as described above. Ventilation for smoke when used in cigare nodo where air dilution such as The ratio can be made relatively large.

Regardless of the relative withdrawal speed of the resulting filter rod, Due to the pneumatic method, the initially present in the fibers after treatment according to the idea of the invention At least a large portion of the crimped condition is maintained. Furthermore, deviations from the idea of the present invention Substantial changes in the exact dimensions and materials used are possible without The following illustrative matters are included to provide a complete disclosure.

From point 70 where charge air is introduced to point 92 where secondary air is introduced approximately 77. A preferred mouth and throat formation stay with an overall length of 79 cm (305/8 inches) 45 is a point 9 where primary cooling air is introduced from a point 78 where steam is introduced. It has a steam soaking section approximately 40.64 cm (16 inches) long to 0. . The length of this steam soaking section obviously depends on the speed at which the production line is operated. However, the important factor is that one to one true core within the internal sealed section. The purpose is to provide sufficient residence time to allow the steam to penetrate up to 100%. 8 Nominal of drunkenness Due to the fabrication of filter rods having a diameter of about 0.5 mm, the inner diameter of the inner bore of the jet 64 is approximately 0.0 mm. 508 cm (0,200 inches) and the diameter of the sealed section within the hollow member 60 is approximately 0.884 cm (0.348 inches), the diameter within cooling station 84. is approximately 8 ■.

The first porous area 74 of the rod forming station consists of 6 rows of 16 holes per row. It consists of a hole approximately 0',099 cm (0,039 inch) in diameter, with a row of holes in front of it. There are 4 rows of 30 holes each with a diameter of approximately 0.079 cm (1/32 inch). do. This relatively small porous area allows the charge air introduced in jet 64 to It is possible to dissipate most of the amount, in fact almost all of it.

1.6/25000 Th10 tow with charging speed of 200 m/min and 13 At a discharge speed of 3 minutes, the conveying air flow in the 195 CFM jet was is charged into the closed section, and substantially all of this air is dissipated in the porous region 74.

Steam was introduced in a 45° countercurrent flow under a pressure of approximately 0.6 kg/cM (9 psi). , - primary and secondary air are approximately 0.6 kg/cJ (9 psi) and approximately It is introduced in countercurrent under a pressure of 1.4 kg/cd+ (20 psi). The above par At Lameter, the weight of tow in a 100u lot is 0.507g. , 25. The suction exhibits a pressure drop of approximately 10.2 cm (4 inches) of water column, and the whole grain The retention of material is approximately 66,2%.

Using the method of the invention for the production of multiple filter rotors by pneumatic action: compared to filters made using traditional methods, depending on the specific tow used. Material savings of 15 to 45% or more can be achieved. About 30% Average weight savings are observed.

7. What desired pressure drop can be achieved by changing the above parameters. do Filters can also be manufactured. For example, in the case of a 25mm mouthpiece, the water column is approximately 7.62 cm (3.0 inches) to approximately 27.4 cm (1, Q, 8 inches) A range of pressure drops can be easily obtained. Such a filter has an absorption of 25n. Regarding the mouth, some roughness was observed in individual operations, but the results ranged from 58.6 to 85. Exhibits total particulate retention in the range of 6%. However, the relatively small weight of the present invention The product weighs less than even heavier prior art filters made by prior art techniques. At least a good and excellent retention rate is exhibited. Furthermore, the product of the invention is self-supporting; A very inexpensive method of air dilution for cigarettes without the need for plugs, knobs, or plugs. It enables the production of Especially considering the ability to manufacture large numbers of filter lots simultaneously. The proposed idea of the invention has clear commercial advantages. This product is different from conventional wrap. It has a smooth circumferential surface as opposed to the uneven surface that results from poor production methods. Therefore, while greatly strengthening the adhesion properties to the suction roller sob, it is possible to The curvature of the fibers present avoids fraying problems. Among others, the present invention Manufacture as many filter sections as possible for a given labor cost using a limited amount of raw materials. enable manufacturing. The multi-processing technique of the present invention can produce 2 to 6 times more than current production levels. It is believed that it is possible to increase the yield. Moreover, it is possible to The symmetry of the product has also been improved, and the wall surface of the enclosed area inside the cooling station has been improved. By pressing against the force, precision in manufacturing the product is maintained. fiber is By manufacturing filters that extend generally transversely, resistance to air flow is reduced. resistance is in contrast to that of conventional filters, i.e. the flow resistance is greater in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. filters with a given pressure drop can be manufactured using relatively less material. This makes it possible to reduce the amount of air dilution at the same level. This would require less irradiation and possibly reduce the presence of smoke in the gas phase.

Furthermore, the improved charging jet of the present invention may be 50%, or even more significantly compared to other conventional technology This results in a reduction in air volume. By eliminating the need for porous healds This improves the working efficiency of the machine as detailed in the text.

The variety of products manufactured depends on the relative feed rates through the equipment while using the same tow. Whatever degree of pressure drop is required within a reasonable range, obtained by varying the degree of pressure and withdrawal speed. Even those with .

This can be achieved using the method of the present invention, which rearranges the orientation of fibers during the manufacturing process. Although many advantages can be realized, the basic concept of the invention is Even though the loading and unloading speeds are essentially the same, it still results in weight savings and improvements. It is intended to produce a more traditional roso that maintains the same performance.

According to the idea of the present invention as stated in the main text, usable polyethylene, polypropylene A wide range of materials can be used, including thermoplastic materials such as However, the preferred materials are cellulose and acetate tow. Individual tow and and total denier can also vary substantially, ranging from 5,000 to 40.0 Aggregate deniers in the range of 0.00 are easily adapted to the method of the present invention; ．． Even tow up to 1,000 denier can be used as starting material. As mentioned above , rather than initially purchasing a small aggregate denim material for the manufacture of a large number of hands. Also, a relatively large aggregate denier tow is purchased and divided by the method of the present invention. It is cheaper to do so.

Because the products of the invention can be manufactured with small aggregate denier tow, Heavy processing methods are particularly advantageous.

In this text, we specifically discuss how to achieve all of the objectives of the invention as described above, by air dilution. Smoking filter elements in cigarettes and of great practical value and commercial Improved filters for use with other things, including a number of important benefits. It will be seen that the loft is disclosed.

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Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A filter comprising a porous, dimensionally stable, axially elongated, generally cylindrical filter element. In a smoke filter, it is fixed integrally throughout the filter so that it is self-supporting. consisting of a continuous filament tow of substantially continuous thermoplastic fibers; The fibers substantially transverse the longitudinal axis of the filter element within the filter element. oriented in mutually adjacent and overlapping positional relationship in substantially continuous layers extending in the direction and the circumferences of the elements are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the filter element so as to overlap with each other. formed from the outer edges of said fibers folded around each axis extending substantially at right angles; the filter element has a substantially uniform cross-section of about 8111. A smoking filter characterized by having a diameter. 2. A cigarette column and a flap fixed to one end of the cigarette column so that the ends face each other. comprising a combination of filters, said filter being a filter as defined in claim 1. A filtered cigarette characterized by containing a filter element. 3. The filter device includes a plurality of ports that communicate the filter element with surrounding air. - A hollow cylindrical mouthpiece having a foration is used to close said part of said tobacco column. It is fixed against the end, which allows the smoke and vent mixture to enter the smoker's mouth with each puff. the fibers inside the filter element are arranged in the longitudinal direction rather than in the transverse direction. creates a large flow resistance in the filter element, which reduces smoke in the air-fuel mixture. Claim 2 characterized in that it allows a relatively large proportion of ventilation to the Cigarettes with filters as described in section. 4. Claim 1, which are integrally connected in a positional relationship in which the ends thereof face each other. A filter rondo comprising a number of filter elements as described above. 5. A substantially continuous structure that is fixed together throughout so as to be self-supporting. porous dimensionally stable with continuous filament tows of thermoplastic fibers In a smoking filter comprising an axially elongated, generally cylindrical filter element, the fibers are The fibers are arranged adjacent to each other and in superimposed relationship in substantially continuous layers. the filter elements are arranged in an overlapping position within the filter elements; by the edges of said fibers being folded to extend axially along the circumference of the element. A smoking filter characterized in that it has a defined and smooth periphery. 6. A cigarette column and a flap fixed to one end of the cigarette column so that the ends face each other. 6, said filter being a filter as set forth in claim 5. 7 cigarettes with a filter, characterized by including filter elements. 7. The filter device includes a plurality of ports that communicate the filter element with surrounding air. - A hollow cylindrical mouthpiece having a foration is used to close said part of said tobacco column. fixed against the end, which allows the smoke and vent mixture to flow into the smoker's mouth with each puff. the fibers inside the filter element are arranged in the longitudinal direction rather than in the transverse direction. This creates a large flow resistance in the filter element, which reduces smoke in the mixture. Claim 6, characterized in that it allows a relatively large proportion of ventilation to the Cigarettes with filters as described in section. 8. Claim 5, which are integrally connected in a positional relationship in which the ends thereof face each other. A filter rod, characterized in that it consists of a number of filter elements as described. 9. The filter element has a substantially uniform cross-sectional diameter of about 8 fi. The filter according to claim 5.