KR20140009385A - Tobacco smoke filter - Google Patents

Abstract

A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core; Wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core to define a cavity at the downstream end of the filter.

Description

Tobacco smoke filter {TOBACCO SMOKE FILTER}

The present invention relates to filters and filter elements for smoking articles such as cigarettes.

It is increasingly necessary to provide a unique end appearance for cigarettes. Cigarette forgery is a serious problem, and the creation of a cigarette brand's unique and / or unusual appearance is an important way of curbing the brand's counterfeiting. In addition, increasing restrictions on the advertising and packaging of cigarettes mean that the appearance of cigarettes is one of the few ways cigarette manufacturers can differentiate their products from other manufacturers' products. Providing a cigarette filter with a unique end appearance can help achieve this goal.

Recess filters are well known in the tobacco industry and provide a means to create a cigarette with a unique end appearance. They are typically made by wrapping filter segments in a continuous stream at predetermined intervals on relatively rigid plug wrap paper. A recessed filter can be obtained by cutting the filter stream in the region where no filter element is present, the rigid plug wrap paper provides sufficient rigidity so that the final cigarette can be made and used without the exposed paper end of the filter crumbled. . The recess filter may contain one, two or more (eg fibrous) filter segments. If two or more segments are used, they will typically exhibit different filter configurations—eg having different filter materials or involving different additives (eg flavors or adsorbents).

Extruded plastic tips for cigarette filters are also known, for example, in US Pat. No. 3396733. They provide another way of creating a unique end appearance for cigarettes. These tips generally have a hollow inner body with a plurality of radial supporting ribs. Such a tip can be used as a downstream or mouth-end segment of a multi-segment filter and is generally known as a shaped plastic filter (SPF).

A further means of providing a cigarette filter of a unique type is a CPA ^™ filter purchased from Filtrona, for example, as illustrated in WO 2007/135414. These include a filter body wrapped with an inner paper wrap (embossed along the length portion), which is in turn embedded in a conventional outer plug wrap. The embossed inner wrap produces a fluted appearance when the filter is cut in this area. When used at the spherical end of the filter, it creates a unique end appearance for the cigarette. It is possible to use this type of filter as a single unitary product or as a segment inside a multi-segment filter.

There is a need to provide a filter with a much more unique end appearance that is difficult to counterfeit.

According to the present invention, a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) core comprises a tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core; a tobacco smoke filter (or filter element) is provided; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core; The downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core here extends beyond the downstream end of the core to define a cavity (eg, tubular) at the downstream end of the filter. The radially inner side of the outer wrapper, which extends beyond the downstream end of the core and is employed around the cavity, is at the downstream end of the recess filter (e.g. with the downstream end of the longitudinally extending core) or A recess can be defined, for example a tubular cavity / recess.

The combination of the recessed filter and the downstream end (circular end) of the filter, including (one or more) visible channels extending upstream from the downstream end of the core, provides a very unique end appearance that is difficult to forge.

In one embodiment, the longitudinally extending core comprises a hollow tube of tobacco smoke filtration material. Tobacco smoke filtration material may be, for example, cellulose acetate filtration material. The cross section of the hollow tube (and thus the channel) may be circular or non-circular. The wall or walls of the hollow tube of circular or non-circular cross section define a channel extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core. The channel generally does not extend the full length of the core. It is possible to control the mixing and channeling of the flow of smoke into and out of the tubular segment and into the recess end before entering the smoker's palate, thus predicting that this type of filter will result in improved sensory properties and cooler smoke.

According to one aspect of the invention, a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) core comprising a tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core; a tobacco smoke filter (or filter element) is provided;

Wherein the longitudinally extending core is generally inwardly toward the longitudinally extending inner body defining a (plural) channel extending longitudinally therebetween (eg, between ribs). A downstream element (eg, a downstream segment) comprising a longitudinally extending tube having a plurality of spatially separated valleys extending (eg, radially inwardly);

Wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core (and extends beyond the downstream end of the downstream element) to (eg, at the downstream end of the filter) Define a tubular cavity.

The radially inner side of the outer wrapper, which extends beyond the downstream end of the core and is employed around the cavity, is at the downstream end of the recess filter (e.g. with the downstream end of the longitudinally extending core) or Define a recess, for example a tubular cavity / recess.

The downstream element (downstream segment) of the longitudinally extending core is directed towards the longitudinally extending inner body defining a (plural) channel extending longitudinally therebetween (eg, between the valleys). It generally includes a longitudinally extending tube having a plurality of spaced valleys extending inwardly (eg, radially inwardly). The inner body may be a hollow (eg tubular) inner body, with the inner wall of the hollow inner body defining an additional longitudinally extending channel. Downstream elements (eg, longitudinally extending tubes, spaced valleys and (eg, hollow) inner bodies) may be integrally formed as a single element, for example by extrusion. The downstream element can be made of any thermoplastic material that can be extruded, for example LDPE. The downstream element may be made of a degradable polymer. The downstream element may contain pigments to impart the desired color or shade. The pigment may be contrasted with the color of the filtration material (eg it may be contrasted with white or yellowish white). The downstream element may be any internal design, for example an inner channel with a backing valley, for example as illustrated in UK design application 4017159.

The longitudinally extending core may comprise one or more (eg one, two, three or four) additional element (s) comprising tobacco smoke filtration material (located upstream of the upstream end of the downstream element). Segment or segments). The tobacco smoke filtration material can be, for example, any material (usually filamentary, fibrous, web or extruded) commonly used for tobacco smoke filter manufacture. The filtration material may be natural or synthetic filament tow, for example cotton or plastic, for example polyethylene or polypropylene, or cellulose acetate filament tosa. This may be, for example, natural or synthetic staple fibers, cotton wool, web materials such as paper (usually creped) and synthetic nonwovens, and extruded materials (eg starch, synthetic foam).

Any type of filter construction known for cigarette filter use, such as "wrapped acetate", "unwrapped acetate", "randomly oriented acetate", "cellulose acetate" or "active acetate" Can be used for additional elements (additional segments). Any number of elements (preferably differentiating characteristics) can be used upstream of downstream (eg, "SPF") elements, for example 1, 2, 3 or 4 segments. If there are two or more additional elements comprising tobacco smoke filtration material, these additional elements, such as the cellulose acetate segment and the 'active acetate' segment, preferably differentiate the filtration properties.

One or more additional elements may contain (eg particulate) additive material (eg activated carbon) suitable for use in cigarette filters and / or contain flavorants such as menthol can do.

The additive material may be a particulate additive. The particulate additive may be any particulate additive suitable for use in tobacco smoke filters, such as activated carbon, zeolites, ion exchange resins (eg, weakly basic anion exchange resins), sepiolite, silica gel, Alumina, molecular sieves, carbonaceous polymer resins and diatomaceous earth. The particulate additive may be a mixture of two or more materials. The additive may comprise a flavourant-for example menthol, for example the additive may be sepiolite granules to which menthol is applied. If the longitudinally extending core of tobacco smoke filtration comprises fully enclosed (eg embedded) pocket (s) of the additive embedded therein, the additive may be a particulate additive such as activated carbon (see above). It is enclosed in the filtration material as, for example, a separate pocket of particulate additive or a pod of particles substantially separated from the filtration material and completely enclosed therein. In another embodiment, the pocket (s) of the fully enclosed (eg, encrusted) additive may be a frangible capsule or capsules, or one or a plurality of frangible microcapsules. Capsule (s) or microcapsule (s) may contain various media—eg, flavoring and / or liquid, solid or other materials, for example, to support smoke filtration. The use of capsules or microcapsules is well known in the art.

Further elements may include a longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material. The longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material may further comprise, for example, a wrapper of a porous or nonporous plug wrap. Such wrapped filters / elements are known as "wrapped acetate" filters or filter elements.

The further element may optionally comprise a longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material further comprising particulate additive, for example together with a wrapper of a porous or nonporous plugwrap. Such filters / elements are known as "active acetate" filters or filter elements.

A further element comprising tobacco smoke filtration material is a membrane of tobacco smoke filtration material having one (or at least one) additive (eg, particulate additive) pocket completely enclosed (eg, embedded) therein. It may comprise a large core. The rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtration material may optionally have an additional wrapper of (eg porous or non-porous) employed around the rod-like core. Providing the additive pocket completely enclosed within the core of the tobacco smoke filtration material has the effect that the additive falls from the second end of the core (because there is a tobacco smoke filtration material between the additive pocket and the end of the core). A single piece of tobacco smoke filtration material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtration material having one (or at least one) additive (eg particulate additive) pocket fully enclosed (eg embedded) therein. The longitudinally extending core of can be produced, for example, by the method and apparatus disclosed in WO 2006/059134.

Additional elements comprising tobacco smoke filtration material may include a rod core of the tobacco smoke filtration material and an additive (eg, particulate additive) retention wrapper employed around the rod core, the additive retention wrapper Having an additive (eg, particulate additive) attached to one or more portion (s) of the radially inner side, the additive bearing wrapper is free of additives around its circumference at the downstream end of the core. The absence of an additive at the downstream end of the additive bearing wrapper has the effect of the additive falling off the downstream end of the core (because there is no additive on the wrapper at the second end of the core). Preferably, the additive bearing wrapper is free of additives around its circumference at both the downstream and upstream ends of the core.

A longitudinally extending core of tobacco smoke filtration material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtration material and an additive (eg, particulate additive) retaining wrapper employed around the rod-shaped core is disclosed in British Patent No. 22611152. It may be a filter element as such. The additive bearing wrapper may be porous or nonporous.

The tobacco smoke filter may be 15 to 40 mm in length, for example 17 to 35 mm, for example 20 to 30 mm. The length of the downstream end of the outer wrapper extending beyond the downstream end of the core, employed around the core to define a cavity at the recessed section of the filter (ie, the downstream (eg, ascending) end of the filter). ) May be 3 to 10 mm in length, most preferably 4 to 6 mm in length. The longitudinally extending core (including any downstream elements and any additional elements including tobacco smoke filtration material) may be 10 to 30 mm in length, for example 14 to 27 mm, for example 17 to 25 mm. Can be. The tobacco smoke filter may have a circumference of 14 to 28 mm, for example 16 to 26 mm, for example 16 to 17 mm or 24 to 25 mm. The final filter cigarette may or may not be vented and may be in any circumferential range traditionally used in smoking products (eg, c. 14 to c. 28 mm circumference).

The outer wrapper may be a paper, for example a plug wrap paper, for example a rigid plug wrap paper. The outer wrapper may be porous or nonporous. The outer wrapper may be paper of about 40 to about 120 g / m 2 basis weight. The outer wrapper may be, for example, a basis weight of about 80 to about 120 g / m 2, eg, about 100 g / m 2 for a standard (c. 24-25 mm) circumferential recess filter. In the case of a slim or ultra slim recess filter (e.g., down to about 16-17 mm circumference), the outer wrapper may be a lower basis weight plug wrap paper of, for example, about 50 g / m 2. It will be appreciated that it is also possible to use a more rigid tip paper with plugwrap paper to provide the desired rigidity for the final recess filter cigarette.

Downstream elements (eg, longitudinally extending tubes) formed integrally as a single element (eg, "SPF segment") in the recess filter structure, for example by extrusion, rather than at their conventional positions at the filter mouth end. , Spaced bones and (e.g., hollow) inner bodies] allow to overcome any discomfort of the 'plastic feeling' for cigarettes caused by the smoker's tongue being in direct contact with the extruded mouthpiece. In addition, the recessed end is softer than that associated with a stiff plastic mouthpiece, which provides a more desirable “clementing feel” for cigarettes.The combination of recess and downstream element (SPF section) at the mouth end of the filter It also means that little coloration of the filter ends is evident to the smoker: inside the SPF or tubular segment and from there into the palate of the smoker It is possible to control the mixing and channeling of the smoke flow into the recesses around the end group can be predicted to cause a sense of improving this type of filter characteristics and a cooler smoke.

According to another aspect of the invention, a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) core comprising a tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core; a tobacco smoke filter (or filter element) is provided;

Wherein the longitudinally extending core includes a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) downstream core of tobacco smoke filtration material; A first inner wrapper employed around the downstream core; And a downstream element optionally including a second inner wrapper employed around the first wrapper; The first wrapper, together with the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper, extends at least one longitudinally extending channel (eg, at least one longitudinally extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the downstream core). A profiled (eg corrugated) outer surface defining a channel];

Wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper and / or the downstream end of the first inner wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core to provide a (eg tubular) cavity at the downstream end of the filter. define. The radially inner side of the outer wrapper or the radially inner side of the first inner wrapper that extends beyond the downstream end of the core and is employed therein (eg, the downstream end / downstream core of the longitudinally extending core). Cavity) or recess, eg, tubular cavity / recess, can be defined at the downstream end of the recess filter. The first inner wrapper may be an air permeable or air impermeable material. Preferably, it is air permeable. The second inner wrapper (if present) may be air permeable or air impermeable material.

The (each) channel may extend longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the downstream core. Preferably, the channel or each channel extends only a portion of the length of the downstream core. The channel or each channel, although different, will preferably exhibit a substantially uniform depth across its longitudinal size, for example when the channel approaches the closed end.

The (each) channel may (alternatively or additionally) extend longitudinally downstream (into the recess area) from the downstream end of the downstream core.

The first wrapper may be, for example, a sheet having a profiled (eg corrugated) surface, the sheet wrapped so that the profiled surface faces the outer wrapper or the second wrapper. The first wrapper, along with at least the second wrapper or outer wrapper, defines a longitudinally extending channel (s), for example extending longitudinally (upstream) from the downstream end of the downstream core. It preferably has a pleat that extends (eg in the axial direction). Each channel may be provided by a pleat of the first wrapper that is closed or blocked at an end away from the downstream end of the downstream core from which the channel extends. The first wrapper is corrugated on both surfaces and may define a channel extending longitudinally with the downstream core as well as the second wrapper or outer wrapper. However, the wrapped downstream core surface may conform to the corrugated inner surface of the first wrapper, leaving a channel only between the first inner wrapper and the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper.

The (each) portion of the downstream core that includes the longitudinal channel (eg, including the corrugation) is referred to herein as the flute or fluted portion. A portion or portion (each) of the downstream core that does not include a longitudinal channel (over the core cross section) is referred to herein as a bar or bar portion. It will be appreciated in this aspect of the invention that a flute portion will be present at the downstream (recess) end of the downstream core to provide a unique end appearance with the recess. There may be additional flute portions upstream (non-recessed ends) of the downstream core. In one embodiment, the downstream core comprises a 3 mm flute portion at each end and a single center bar portion as the remaining full length downstream core. Since the pressure drop (PD / mm) of the bar is higher than the pressure drop of the flute, this arrangement may represent an additional advantage that the amount of filtration material (eg, cellulose acetate soil) in the downstream core can be reduced. .

This aspect of the invention may provide a recess in the labial (downstream) end, immediately upstream of which the longitudinal channel (s) or groove (s) face towards the labial end, creating a more unique end appearance. Fluted or "CPA" element (segment). As discussed in more detail below, there may be one or more additional elements (segments) of filtration material upstream of the CPA segment. Any filter segment located further upstream of the CPA segment preferably exhibits filtration characteristics that differentiate it from the CPA segment and include, for example, particulate additives and / or flavoring agents.

The downstream core may comprise up to 23 channels, preferably 14 to 20 channels (eg extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core (for filters of about 25 mm circumference)). have. The total cross-sectional area of these channels may amount to 2-12%, preferably at least 4%, more preferably 4-8% of the total cross-sectional area of the filter. Thus, careful control of the number and / or depth of channels (eg, by controlled embossing of the first wrapper) can provide improved filtration performance. This may preferably be achieved by increasing the surface area of the wrinkles available for blowing smoke, and optionally by increasing the depth of the wrinkles with increasing the wrinkle pitch—ie, expanding the wrinkles while reducing their number. For example, a filter according to the present invention may have 15 channels at a pitch of about 0.45 mm deep and about 1.5 mm at the downstream end of the downstream core; The other filter can have channels 0.32 mm deep with a pitch of 1.05 mm, and the number of channels is 23. Since the crest of the pleats is generally attached to the outer wrapper and is not effective for filtration, the area of pleated wrap available for smoke filtration in these embodiments is generally slightly less than the total pleat surface area.

The first wrapper includes at least one channel extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the downstream core with the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper and at least one extending downstream from the upstream end of the downstream core. A channel may be defined, wherein each channel extends only a portion of the downstream core length, wherein at least one portion of the downstream core does not include a channel extending in the longitudinal direction.

Preferably, the length of each channel is at least 2 mm, preferably 2.5 mm to 23 mm, more preferably 3 mm to 15 mm, more preferably 3.5 mm to 9 mm. The channel or channels extending from one end (upstream or downstream) may be different in length from those extending from the other end, or they may be the same length. The channels at both ends of the downstream core may be 7-8 mm long. The channels at both ends of the downstream core can be 3 to 4 mm long, for example 3.75 mm long. Providing channels of these dimensions can be tolerated by the performance of the downstream core (such as tar retention) and additionally ensures that the advantages of the present invention (eg, consistent pressure drop, congestion enhancement) are obtained. it means.

The longitudinally extending core may comprise only the downstream core or one or more (eg, one, two, three or four) additional element (s) (segments or Segments). Additional elements will be located upstream of the downstream core. The tobacco smoke filtration material can be, for example, any material (usually filamentary, fibrous, web or extruded) commonly used for tobacco smoke filter manufacture. The filtration material may be natural or synthetic filament earth, for example cotton or plastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or cellulose acetate filament earth. This may be, for example, natural or synthetic staple fibers, cotton wool, web materials such as paper (usually creped) and synthetic nonwovens, and extruded materials (eg starch, synthetic foam).

Any type of filter structure known for cigarette filter applications, such as "wrapped acetate", "unwrapped acetate", "randomly oriented acetate", "cellulose acetate" or "active acetate" may be used in these additional elements ( Additional segments). Any number of elements (preferably differentiating characteristics) can be used upstream of downstream (eg "CPA") elements, eg 1, 2, 3 or 4 segments. If there are two or more additional elements comprising tobacco smoke filtration material, these additional elements, such as the cellulose acetate segment and the 'active acetate' segment, preferably differentiate the filtration properties.

One or more additional elements may contain (eg, particulate) additive material (eg, activated carbon) suitable for use in cigarette filters and / or may contain flavoring agents, such as menthol. .

The additive material may be a particulate additive. The particulate additive may be any particulate additive suitable for use in tobacco smoke filters, such as activated carbon, zeolites, ion exchange resins (eg, weakly basic anion exchange resins), sepiolite, silica gel, Alumina, molecular sieves, carbonaceous polymer resins and diatomaceous earth. The particulate additive may be a mixture of two or more materials. The additive may comprise a flavourant-for example menthol, for example the additive may be sepiolite granules to which menthol is applied. If the longitudinally extending core of tobacco smoke filtration comprises fully enclosed (eg embedded) pocket (s) of the additive embedded therein, the additive may be a particulate additive such as activated carbon (see above). It is enclosed in the filtration material as, for example, a separate pocket of particulate additive or a pod of particles substantially separated from the filtration material and completely enclosed therein. In another embodiment, the pocket (s) of the fully enclosed (eg, encrusted) additive may be a frangible capsule or capsules, or one or a plurality of frangible microcapsules. Capsule (s) or microcapsule (s) may contain various media—eg, flavoring and / or liquid, solid or other materials, for example, to support smoke filtration. The use of capsules or microcapsules is well known in the art.

Further elements may include a longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material. The longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material may further comprise, for example, a wrapper of a porous or nonporous plug wrap. Such wrapped filters / elements are known as "wrapped acetate" filters or filter elements.

The further element may optionally comprise a longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material further comprising particulate additive, for example together with a wrapper of a porous or nonporous plugwrap. Such filters / elements are known as "active acetate" filters or filter elements.

A further element comprising tobacco smoke filtration material is a membrane of tobacco smoke filtration material having one (or at least one) additive (eg, particulate additive) pocket completely enclosed (eg, embedded) therein. It may comprise a large core. The rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtration material may optionally have an additional wrapper of (eg porous or non-porous) employed around the rod-like core. Providing the additive pocket completely enclosed within the core of the tobacco smoke filtration material has the effect that the additive falls from the second end of the core (because there is a tobacco smoke filtration material between the additive pocket and the end of the core). A single piece of tobacco smoke filtration material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtration material having one (or at least one) additive (eg particulate additive) pocket fully enclosed (eg embedded) therein. The longitudinally extending core of can be produced, for example, by the method and apparatus disclosed in WO 2006/059134.

Additional elements comprising tobacco smoke filtration material may include a rod core of the tobacco smoke filtration material and an additive (eg, particulate additive) retention wrapper employed around the rod core, the additive retention wrapper Having an additive (eg, particulate additive) attached to one or more portion (s) of the radially inner side, the additive bearing wrapper is free of additives around its circumference at the downstream end of the core. The absence of an additive at the downstream end of the additive bearing wrapper has the effect of the additive falling off the downstream end of the core (because there is no additive on the wrapper at the second end of the core). Preferably, the additive bearing wrapper is free of additives around its circumference at both the downstream and upstream ends of the core. A longitudinally extending core of tobacco smoke filtration material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtration material and an additive (eg, particulate additive) retaining wrapper employed around the rod-shaped core is disclosed in British Patent No. 22611152. It may be a filter element as such. The additive bearing wrapper may be porous or nonporous.

The tobacco smoke filter may be 15 to 40 mm in length, for example 17 to 35 mm, for example 20 to 30 mm. The length of the downstream end of the outer wrapper extending beyond the downstream end of the core, employed around the core to define a cavity at the recessed section of the filter (ie, the downstream (eg, ascending) end of the filter). ) May be 3 to 10 mm in length, most preferably 4 to 6 mm in length. The longitudinally extending cores (including any additional elements including downstream fluted cores and tobacco smoke filtration material) are 10 to 30 mm in length, for example 14 to 27 mm, for example 17 to May be 25 mm. The tobacco smoke filter may have a circumference of 14 to 28 mm, for example 16 to 26 mm, for example 16 to 17 mm or 24 to 25 mm. The final filter cigarette may or may not be vented and may be in any circumferential range traditionally used in smoking products (eg, c. 14 to c. 28 mm circumference).

The outer wrapper may be a paper, for example a plug wrap paper, for example a rigid plug wrap paper. The outer wrapper may be porous or nonporous. The outer wrapper may be paper of about 40 to about 120 g / m 2 basis weight. The outer wrapper may be, for example, a basis weight of about 80 to about 120 g / m 2, eg, about 100 g / m 2 for a standard (c. 24-25 mm) circumferential recess filter. In the case of a slim or ultra slim recess filter (e.g., down to about 16-17 mm circumference), the outer wrapper may be a lower basis weight plug wrap paper of, for example, about 50 g / m 2. It will be appreciated that it is also possible to use a more rigid tip paper with plugwrap paper to provide the desired rigidity for the final recess filter cigarette.

In an embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the first inner wrapper may extend beyond the downstream end of the downstream core / downstream element, around which it is (eg, tubular) at the downstream end of the filter. ) Is employed to define the cavity (eg, alone or with an outer wrapper). In this case, the second inner wrapper of the downstream core can be omitted, because additional wrappers (eg, the outer wrapper used to wrap the final recess filter) will be required to combine the various segments of the filter. Because it can. However, for example an 80 g / m 2 basis weight (eg embossed) first inner wrapper, for example a lower basis weight outer wrapper of 40 g / m 2 is used but still provides sufficient rigidity at the recess end. It will be appreciated.

The first inner wrapper and / or the second inner wrapper may be colored or treated with pigments to enhance the uniqueness of the end appearance. Preferably the coloring or pigment is contrasted with for example white filtration material.

The first inner wrapper does not have to extend beyond the downstream end of the downstream core. In this embodiment, the downstream core and the first inner wrapper are not overwrapped in the (overweight plug wrap) outer wrapper that defines the cavity when the machined recess filter is assembled (this type of known "CPA"). In the case of a filter element it may be wrapped in a second inner wrapper (as is conventional). In other embodiments, the second inner wrapper may be omitted. It will be appreciated that these embodiments will produce a different end appearance than embodiments where the first inner wrapper extends downstream into (or to define) the recess section of the final filter.

In the filter cigarette according to the invention, the filter of the invention (or the filter comprising the filter element of the invention) is connected with a wrapped tobacco rod with one end of the filter towards the tobacco. The filter may be, for example, ring tipping (which is employed around the (wrapped) filter and immediately adjacent end of the rod to expose most filter wraps) or, more preferably, full tip overlap tipping overwrap), which is employed around the entire filter length and the adjacent end of the tobacco rod, to connect with the wrapped tobacco rod. The cigarette may include a tip overlap (eg, of the rigid tip paper) with the outer wrapper of the filter to provide the desired (eg, additionally increased) rigidity for the final recess filter cigarette.

Any filter or filter cigarette according to the invention is not ventilated or is well known in the art, for example, pre-perforated or air-permeable wrappers (plug wraps), and / or wrappers (plug wraps) and tips It can be vented using laser perforation of the overlap. Likewise, a vented pull tip overlap is also inherently air-permeable, or may be provided with a vent, and in a vented product in which both a filter plug wrap and a tip overlap exist, the vent through the overlap is usually through a plug wrap. Will be matched with the donation. Aeration through the filter plug wrap or tip overlap, or through both simultaneously, can be made by laser drilling in the manufacture of the filter or filter cigarette.

If the vent in the filter or filter cigarette according to the invention is localized in the longitudinal direction of the product comprising the additive, for example activated carbon, it is preferably selected in conformity with the upstream, downstream and additives of the additive. Confined to one or two areas. Thus, the filter or filter cigarette vent according to the invention is in the longitudinal direction of the filter or filter cigarette, for example upstream, downstream of the additive pocket (or patch or part), and according to the required ventilation and filtration performance. It may be limited to one or two regions selected to match this. Preferably, the vent in the filter or filter cigarette according to the invention can be defined in the longitudinal direction of the filter or filter cigarette, eg, in combination with an additional element which is an "active acetate" filter or filter element, as described above. . For example, vents upstream and / or mating with the first additive pocket (if present) are often preferred. When two or more are present, there may be a vent between the portions (or pockets or patches) of the second additive.

In a further aspect according to the invention, a plurality of (eg, two, four, six, etc.) filters (or two, four, six, etc.) connected in an end-to-end integral fashion as described above and / or herein in a mirror image relationship, or Multiple bars are provided, including filter elements). Multiple rods and methods of making them are known in the art.

The invention will be explained with reference to the following examples and the accompanying drawings.

1 schematically illustrates a recess filter according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 schematically illustrates a recess filter according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
3 diagrammatically illustrates a recess filter according to a further embodiment of the invention.
4 diagrammatically illustrates a recess filter according to another further embodiment of the invention.

Example

1 shows an "recess SPF" filter tip, which is an embodiment of the invention. The filter comprises a longitudinally extending cylindrical core comprising an additional element 3 comprising a tobacco smoke filtration material and a downstream element 1. The downstream element 1 is 5 mm in the form of a longitudinally extending cylindrical tube with six spaced valleys extending radially inwardly towards the longitudinally extending inner body in the form of an additional hollow cylindrical tube. And an extruded HDPE section of length. The valley (along with the radially inner side of the cylindrical tube and the radially outer side of the inner body) defines six longitudinally extending channels. The hollow tubular inner body defines an additional longitudinally extending channel inside the inner body. The cross-sectional profile of the HDPE section 1 is shown in (2). The further element 3 comprises a cylindrical plug of tobacco smoke filtration material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers and is 18 mm long. The further element 3 is adjacent to the upstream end of the extruded downstream element 1, the elements 3 and 1 being a plugwrap 4 of basis weight 27 g / m 2 applied by known means in the art. Is connected using. The outer wrapper 5 of the 100 g / m 2 plug wrap is employed around the longitudinally extending cores (ie elements 3 and 1) to completely overlap the cores; The downstream end of the outer wrapper 5 extends beyond the downstream end of the longitudinally extending core (and the downstream element 1 in which the wrapper is employed around it) to be 4 mm long at the downstream end of the filter. Define a recess 6 or tubular cavity of the. The outer wrapper is applied by means known in the art. This produces a recess filter of 27 mm in total length.

By the combination of the recess 6 and the downstream element 1 with the downstream end (circular end) of the cross section 2 comprising a channel extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core / downstream element It will be appreciated that it provides a very unique end appearance that is difficult to forge.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of a "recess SPF" tip, which is an embodiment of the present invention. The filter comprises a downstream element 1a; A first additional element 3a comprising tobacco smoke filtration material; And a longitudinally extending cylindrical core comprising a second additional element 7a comprising a tobacco smoke filtration material. The downstream element 1a is 5 mm in the form of a longitudinally extending cylindrical tube with six spaced valleys extending radially inwards towards the longitudinally extending inner body in the form of an additional hollow cylindrical tube. And an extruded HDPE section of length. The valley (along with the radially inner side of the cylindrical tube and the radially outer side of the inner body) defines six longitudinally extending channels. The hollow tubular inner body defines an additional longitudinally extending channel inside the inner body. Therefore, the cross-sectional profile of the HDPE section 1a is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 (2). The first additional element 3a comprises a cylindrical plug of tobacco smoke filtration material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers of length 8 mm and is located immediately upstream of the extruded section 1a. The second additional element 7a comprises an "active acetate" segment in the form of a cylindrical plug of tobacco smoke filtration material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers comprising particulate additive in the form of activated carbon. The second additional element 7a is 10 mm long and is located at the upstream end of the filter (this end will be connected to the tobacco column in the processed filter cigarette). The filter segments 1a, 3a and 7a are connected together using a plug wrap 4 of 27 g / m 2 basis weight by means known in the art. The outer wrapper 5 of the 100 g / m 2 plug wrap is employed around the longitudinally extending cores (ie elements 7a, 3a and 1a) to completely overlap the cores; The downstream end of the outer wrapper 5 extends beyond the downstream end of the longitudinally extending core (and the downstream element 1a in which the wrapper is employed around it) to be 4 mm long at the downstream end of the filter. Define a recess 6 or tubular cavity of the. The outer wrapper is applied by means known in the art. This produces a recess filter of 27 mm in total length.

Again, forging by the combination of the recess 6 and the downstream element 1a with the downstream end (circumferential end) of the cross-section 2 comprising a channel extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core. It will be appreciated that it provides a very unique end appearance that is difficult.

3 shows an "recess CPA" filter tip, which is an embodiment of the invention. The filter comprises a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) core comprising a downstream core 8 and an additional element 11 located upstream of the downstream core. The further element 11 comprises a 15 mm long "active acetate" segment in the form of a cylindrical plug of tobacco smoke filtration material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers comprising particulate additive in the form of activated carbon. The downstream core 8 comprises an 8 mm long longitudinal cylindrical plug comprising cellulose acetate fibers wrapped in a first inner wrapper 9 comprising a plug wrap of 80 g / m 2 basis weight. The plug wrap forming the inner wrapper 9 is embossed in length with 15 grooves about 0.45 mm deep and about 1.5 mm pitch. The plug is wrapped by the inner wrapper 9 so that about 4 mm of length at the upstream end is surrounded by the area of the plugwrap that is not embossed ('bar area') and the remaining 4 mm length at the downstream end is embossed. Surrounded by an area of 'flute area'; The embossed area ('flute area') of the inner wrapper of the plug wrap extends downstream beyond the downstream end of the plug by an additional 4 mm. The downstream core 8 and the additional element 11 are joined together by the outer wrapper 12 in the form of a rigid plug wrap of 50 g / m 2 basis weight, the downstream end of the outer wrapper 12 also having a wrapper around it. It extends beyond the 4 mm downstream end of the core 8 employed in defining a tubular cavity of 4 mm length at the downstream end of the filter (with the inner wrapper 9). The embossed region of the inner wrapper 9, with the outer wrapper 12 employed around the inner wrapper, extends longitudinally into the downstream core upstream from the downstream end of the downstream core and from the downstream end of the downstream core. It defines fifteen grooves or channels extending longitudinally into the cavity / recess region downstream. Unique fluting of 4 mm length defined by the embossed pattern of the outer wrapper 12 and the inner wrapper 9 by the combination of the rigid outer wrapper 12 of the plug wrap and the embossed inner wrapper 9 of the plug wrap. It will be appreciated that it creates a stiff recess 10 with a finished end appearance.

4 shows a recessed CPA filter tip, which is a further embodiment of the present invention. The filter comprises a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) core comprising a downstream core 8a and an additional element 11 located upstream of the downstream core. The further element 11 comprises a 12 mm long "active acetate" segment in the form of a cylindrical plug of tobacco smoke filtration material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers comprising particulate additive in the form of activated carbon. The downstream core 8a comprises an 11 mm long longitudinal cylindrical plug comprising cellulose acetate fibers wrapped in a first inner wrapper 9a comprising a plug wrap of 80 g / m 2 basis weight. The plug wrap forming the inner wrapper 9a is embossed in length with 15 grooves about 0.45 mm deep and about 1.5 mm pitch. The plug is wrapped by the inner wrapper 9a so that about 5 mm of length at the upstream end is surrounded by an unembossed plug wrap area ('bar area') and at the downstream end of the plug wrap embossed with the remaining 6 mm length. It is surrounded by an area ('flute area'). The downstream core 8a and the additional element 11 are joined together by the outer wrapper 12a in the form of a rigid plug wrap of 100 g / m 2 basis weight; The downstream end of the outer wrapper 12 extends 4 mm beyond the downstream end of the downstream core 8a in which the wrapper is employed to define a tubular cavity of length 4 mm at the downstream end of the filter. The inner wrapper 9a, together with the outer wrapper 12a, defines fifteen grooves or channels extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the downstream core and within the recess / cavity formed by the outer wrapper 12a. Visualized at

The unique end appearance seen from the end of the filter cigarette is due to the combination of the recessed and fluted end appearance of the downstream core 8a defined by the embossed pattern of the inner wrapper 9 and the outer wrapper 12. It will be appreciated that it is provided.

It will be appreciated that the filters described above, including the multi-segment recess filters, can be manufactured by conventional means. It will be appreciated that the filters described above can be used to make filter cigarettes by conventional means. For example, the filter of the present invention may be combined with a wrapped tobacco rod with one end of the filter facing the tobacco. The filter can be, for example, a ring tip (which is employed around the (wrapped) filter and the immediate adjoining end of the rod to expose most of the filter wrap) or, more preferably, the full tip overlap (which is the overall filter length and Employed around the adjacent end of the tobacco rod). The cigarette may include a tip overlap (eg, of the rigid tip paper) with the outer wrapper of the filter to provide the desired (eg, additionally increased) rigidity for the final recess filter cigarette.

Claims (20)

A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core and wherein
(a) the longitudinally extending core comprises a hollow tube of tobacco smoke filtration material;
(b) The longitudinally extending core comprises a downstream element comprising a longitudinally extending tube having a plurality of spaced ribs extending generally inwardly towards the longitudinally extending inner body. The valleys define a plurality of channels extending longitudinally therebetween;
(c) wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises a downstream core extending longitudinally of the tobacco smoke filtration material; A first inner wrapper employed around the downstream core; And a downstream element optionally including a second inner wrapper employed around the first inner wrapper; The first inner wrapper has a profiled (eg, corrugated) outer surface defining a channel extending at least one longitudinally with the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper;
Wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper and / or the downstream end of the first inner wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core to define a cavity at the downstream end of the filter or Filter element. The method of claim 1,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a hollow tube of tobacco smoke filtration material in which the longitudinally extending core does not extend the full length of the core. A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core;
Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises a downstream element comprising a longitudinally extending tube having a plurality of spaced valleys extending generally inwardly toward the longitudinally extending inner body; Define a plurality of channels extending in between;
Wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core to define a cavity at the downstream end of the filter. The method of claim 3,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element wherein the inner body is a hollow inner body with inner wall (s) defining a channel extending further longitudinally. The method according to claim 3 or 4,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element in which the downstream element is integrally formed as a single element. 6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
Tobacco smoke filter or filter element, wherein the downstream element is formed by extrusion. A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core;
Wherein the longitudinally extending core is a downstream core extending longitudinally of the tobacco smoke filtration material; A first inner wrapper employed around the downstream core; And a downstream element optionally including a second inner wrapper employed around the first inner wrapper; The first inner wrapper has a profiled (eg, corrugated) outer surface defining a channel extending at least one longitudinally with the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper;
Wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper and / or the downstream end of the first inner wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core to define a cavity at the downstream end of the filter or Filter element. The method of claim 7, wherein
Define the channel (s) extending longitudinally with the second wrapper or outer wrapper by employing a first inner wrapper around the core having a profiled (eg corrugated) surface facing the outer wrapper or the second wrapper. Tobacco smoke filter or filter element. 9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element wherein at least one longitudinally extending channel extends longitudinally upstream from a downstream end of the downstream core. 10. The method of claim 9,
Tobacco smoke filter or filter element wherein the channel or each channel extends only to a portion of the length of the downstream core. 11. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element, wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more additional element (s) comprising tobacco smoke filtration material upstream of the downstream element. The method according to claim 10 or 11,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material, the additional element optionally further comprising a wrapper of a porous or nonporous plug wrap. 13. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtration material further comprising a particulate additive and optionally further comprising a wrapper of a porous or nonporous plug wrap. A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtration material; And an outer wrapper employed around the longitudinally extending core; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core; Wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core to define a cavity at the downstream end of the filter. 15. The method of claim 14,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises a hollow tube of tobacco smoke filtration material. 16. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
A filter or filter element wherein the outer wrapper is a paper, for example a plug wrap paper. 17. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
A filter or filter element wherein the outer wrapper is paper exhibiting a basis weight of about 40 to about 120 g / m 2. Cigarette smoke filter as substantially as described above with reference to any accompanying drawings. 19. A filter cigarette comprising the filter or filter element according to any of the preceding claims connected to a wrapped tobacco rod with the first end of the core towards the tobacco. 19. A filter (or filter element) according to any one of claims 1 to 18, comprising a plurality of (eg two, four, six, etc.) connected end-to-end integrally in a mirror image relationship. Multiple bars.

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