KR20210046864A - Tobacco smoke filter - Google Patents

Abstract

A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtering material; And an outer wrapper employed around the core extending in the longitudinal direction; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from a downstream end of the core; A tobacco smoke filter or filter element wherein a downstream end of an outer wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core thereby defining 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 counterfeiting is a serious problem, and the creation of a cigarette brand's unique and/or unusual appearance is an important way to deter counterfeiting of that brand. Additionally, increasing restrictions on 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 of creating a unique end appearance in cigarettes. They are typically made by wrapping the filter segments of a continuous stream at predetermined intervals in relatively rigid plug wrap paper. A recess filter can be obtained by cutting the filter stream in an area where no filter element is present, the rigid plugwrap paper provides sufficient rigidity so that the final cigarette can be made and used without crushing the exposed paper end of the filter. . 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-for example with different filter materials or with different additives (eg flavor or adsorbent).

Extruded plastic tips for cigarette filters are also known from, for example, U.S. Patent No. 3396733. They offer another way to create a unique end appearance for cigarettes. These tips generally have a hollow inner body with a plurality of radial supporting ribs. Such tips can be used as downstream or mouth-end segments of a multi-segment filter and are commonly known as Shaped Plastic Filters (SPFs).

A further means of providing a unique type of cigarette filter is, for example, a CPA ^™ filter purchased from Filtrona, as illustrated in International Patent Publication No. 2007/135414. They comprise a filter body wrapped with an inner paper wrap (embossed along the length portion), which in turn is embedded within a normal outer plug wrap. The embossed inner wrap creates a fluted appearance when the filter is cut in this area. When used at the lip end of the filter, this creates a unique end appearance for the cigarette. It is possible to use this type of filter as a single unified product or as a segment inside a multi-segment filter.

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

According to the invention there is provided a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) core comprising a tobacco smoke filtering material; And a tobacco smoke filter (or filter element) comprising an outer wrapper employed around a core extending longitudinally; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from a 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 thereby defining a (eg tubular) cavity at the downstream end of the filter. The radially inner face of the outer wrapper employed around and extending beyond the downstream end of the core is a cavity (e.g., with the downstream end of the core extending longitudinally) at the downstream end of the recess filter or It is possible to define a recess, for example a tubular cavity/recess.

The combination of a recess filter and a downstream end of the filter comprising (one or more) visible channels extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core provides a very unique end appearance that is difficult to counterfeit.

In one embodiment, the longitudinally extending core comprises a hollow tube of tobacco smoke filtering material. The tobacco smoke filtering material can be, for example, a cellulose acetate filtering material. The cross section of the hollow tube (and hence the channel) may be circular or non-circular. The walls or walls of a hollow tube of circular or non-circular cross-section define a channel extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the core. The channels generally do not extend the entire length of the core. It can be expected that this type of filter will produce improved sensory properties and cooler smoke as it is possible to control the mixing and channeling of the smoke flow inside the tubular segment and into the end of the recess before entering the smoker's palate there.

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

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

The downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core here extends beyond the downstream end of the core (and by extending beyond the downstream end of the downstream element) at the downstream end of the filter (e.g., Tubular) cavity.

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

The downstream elements of the longitudinally extending core (downstream segments) are directed toward the longitudinally extending inner body defining longitudinally extending (plural) channels therebetween (e.g., between valleys). It generally includes a longitudinally extending tube having a plurality of spaced valleys extending inwardly (eg, radially inward). The inner body may be a hollow (eg, tubular) inner body, and the inner wall of the hollow inner body defines a further longitudinally extending channel. The downstream elements (eg longitudinally extending tubes, spaced valleys and (eg hollow) inner body) can be formed integrally 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 can be made of a degradable polymer. The downstream elements may contain pigments to impart the desired color or shade. The pigment can be contrasted with the color of the filter material (for example, it can be contrasted with white or off-white). The downstream element can be any interior design, eg, an interior channel with backing ribs, eg, as illustrated in UK Design Application No. 4017159.

The longitudinally extending core comprises one or more (e.g. 1, 2, 3 or 4) additional element(s) comprising tobacco smoke filtering material (located upstream of the upstream end of the downstream element) ( Segment or segments). The tobacco smoke filtering material can be, for example, any material (usually filamentous, fibrous, web or extruded) commonly used for the manufacture of tobacco smoke filters. The filtration material may be natural or synthetic filament tow, for example cotton or plastic, for example polyethylene or polypropylene, or cellulose acetate filament tow. This can be, for example, natural or synthetic staple fibers, cotton wool, web materials, such as (usually creped) paper and synthetic nonwovens, and extruded materials (eg, starch, synthetic foam).

Any type of filter construction known for cigarette filter applications, 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) may be used for downstream (eg “SPF”) elements, eg, upstream of 1, 2, 3 or 4 segments. If two or more additional elements comprising tobacco smoke filtering material are present, these additional elements, for example cellulose acetate segments and'active acetate' segments, preferably differentiate the filtering properties.

The one or more additional elements may contain an additive material (e.g., activated carbon) suitable for use in a cigarette filter (e.g., particulate) and/or contain a flavorant, e.g. 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 (e.g., weakly basic anion exchange resins), sepiolite, silica gel, It may be alumina, molecular sieve, carbonaceous polymer resin, and diatomaceous earth. The particulate additive may be a mixture of two or more materials. The additive may include a flavoring agent-for example menthol, and for example, the additive may be sepiolite granules coated with menthol. Where the longitudinally extending core of the tobacco smoke filtration comprises fully enclosed (e.g., embedded) pocket(s) of the additive embedded therein, the additive is a particulate additive, e.g. activated carbon (see above). ), which is enclosed in the filtration material, for example, as a pod of particles or separate pockets of particulate additive substantially separate from and completely enclosed in the filtration material. In another embodiment, the fully enclosed (eg, embedded) pocket(s) of additive may be a brittle capsule or capsules, or one or a plurality of brittle microcapsules. The capsule(s) or microcapsule(s) may contain a variety of media-for example flavoring agents and/or liquids, solids or other materials to support, for example, smoke filtration. The use of capsules or microcapsules is well known in the art.

A further element may comprise a cylindrical plug extending in the longitudinal direction of the cellulose acetate filtration material. The cylindrical plug extending in the longitudinal direction of the cellulose acetate filtering material may further comprise a wrapper of, for example, a porous or non-porous plugwrap. Such wrapped filters/elements are known as “wrapped acetate” filters or filter elements.

The further element may optionally comprise a cylindrical plug extending in the longitudinal direction of the cellulose acetate filtration material further comprising particulate additives, for example with a wrapper of a porous or non-porous plugwrap. Such filters/elements are known as “active acetate” filters or filter elements.

A further element comprising tobacco smoke filtering material is a membrane of tobacco smoke filtering material having one (or at least one) pocket of additive (e.g., particulate additive) completely enclosed therein (e.g., embedded). May contain large cores. The rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtering material may optionally have an additional wrapper (eg, porous or non-porous) employed around the rod-shaped core. Providing a fully enclosed additive pocket within the core of the tobacco smoke filtering material has the effect of dripping the additive from the second end of the core (because there is a tobacco smoke filtering material between the additive pocket and the end of the core). A single piece of tobacco smoke filtering material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtering material having one (or at least one) pocket of additives (eg, particulate additives) completely enclosed therein (eg, embedded) The core extending in the longitudinal direction of can be produced, for example, by the method and apparatus disclosed in International Patent Publication No. 2006/059134.

Further elements comprising the tobacco smoke filtering material may include a rod-shaped core of the tobacco smoke filtering material and an additive (e.g., particulate additive) holding wrapper employed around the rod-shaped core, the additive holding wrapper being With additives (eg, particulate additives) attached to one or more portion(s) of the radially inner side, the additive retaining wrapper is additive free around its circumference at the downstream end of the core. The absence of the additive at the downstream end of the additive holding wrapper has the effect of dripping the additive from the downstream end of the core (because there is no additive over the wrapper of the second end of the core). Preferably, the additive holding wrapper is additive free around its circumference at both the downstream and upstream ends of the core.

A longitudinally extending core of a tobacco smoke filtering material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtering material and an additive (e.g., particulate additive) retaining wrapper employed around the rod-shaped core is disclosed in British Patent No. 2261152. It may be a filter element as such. The additive holding wrapper can be porous or non-porous.

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 (i.e., the downstream (e.g., lip) 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 downstream elements and any additional elements including tobacco smoke filtering material) is 10 to 30 mm in length, for example 14 to 27 mm, for example 17 to 25 mm. I can. 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 of any circumference range traditionally used in smoking products (eg, c. 14 to c. 28 mm circumference).

The outer wrapper may be paper, for example a plugwrap paper, for example a rigid plugwrap paper. The outer wrapper can be porous or non-porous. The outer wrapper may be about 40 to about 120 g/m 2 basis weight paper. The outer wrapper can be, for example, a basis weight of about 80 to about 120 g/m2, for example, about 100 g/m2 for a standard (c. 24-25 mm) circumferential recess filter. In the case of a slim or ultra-slim recess filter (eg, downwardly circumferentially about 16-17 mm), the outer wrapper may be, for example, a lower basis weight plugwrap paper of 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 to the final recess filter cigarette.

A downstream element (e.g. a longitudinally extending tube) integrally formed as a single element (e.g., "SPF segment") in a recessed filter structure, for example by extrusion, rather than its usual position at the filter mouth end. , Spaced bones and (e.g., hollow) inner body] to overcome any unpleasantness of the'plastic feel' to the cigarette as a result of the smoker's tongue in direct contact with the extruded mouthpiece. Also, since the recessed ends are softer than those associated with a stiff plastic mouthpiece, this gives the cigarette a more desirable “mouth feel.” The combination of the recess and downstream elements (SPF section) at the mouthpiece of the filter is It also means that little coloration at the end of the filter becomes apparent to the smoker. This type of mixing and channeling of smoke flows inside the SPF or tubular segment and from there into the recessed end before entering the smoker's palate is controlled. It can be expected that the filter will produce improved sensory properties and cooler smoke.

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

The longitudinally extending core herein comprises: a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) downstream core of the tobacco smoke filtering material; A first inner wrapper employed around the downstream core; And, optionally, a downstream element comprising a second inner wrapper employed around the first wrapper; The first wrapper is at least one longitudinally extending channel with the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper (e.g., at least one longitudinally extending channel extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the downstream core). A profiled (eg, corrugated) outer surface defining a channel];

Here the downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core and/or the downstream end of the first inner wrapper extend beyond the downstream end of the core, thereby creating a (e.g., 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 and is employed around the downstream end of the core (e.g., the downstream end of the longitudinally extending core/downstream core With) a cavity or recess, for example a tubular cavity/recess 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 an 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 depth that is substantially uniform across its longitudinal dimensions, 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, for example, be a sheet having a profiled (eg, corrugated) surface, the sheet being wrapped such that the profiled surface faces the outer wrapper or the second wrapper. The first wrapper, with at least the second wrapper or outer wrapper, defines a longitudinally extending channel(s), e.g. extending longitudinally (upstream) from the downstream end of the downstream core. It preferably has a wrinkle extending (eg, in the axial direction). Each channel may be provided by a corrugation of a 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 conforms 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 (respective) portion of the downstream core comprising the longitudinal channel (eg, comprising a corrugation) is referred to herein as a flute or fluted portion. The (respective) portion or portion 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 that in this aspect of the invention there will be a fluted portion at the downstream (recess) end of the downstream core to provide a unique end appearance with the recess. There may be an additional flute portion upstream (non-recessed end) of the downstream core. In one embodiment the downstream core comprises a 3 mm flute portion at each end and a single central bar portion as the remaining full length downstream core. Since the pressure drop in the bar (PD/mm) is higher than the pressure drop in the flute, this arrangement may present the additional advantage that the amount of filtration material (e.g., cellulose acetate sediment) in the downstream core can be reduced. .

This aspect of the invention may provide a recess in the lip (downstream) end, immediately upstream of which the longitudinal channel(s) or groove(s) face towards the lip end, creating a more distinctive end appearance. It is a 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 properties that differentiate it from the CPA segment and includes, for example, particulate additives and/or flavoring agents.

The downstream core may comprise up to 23 channels, preferably 14 to 20 channels (e.g., 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 can amount to 2 to 12%, preferably at least 4%, more preferably 4 to 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 can be achieved by increasing the depth of the wrinkles, preferably with increasing the surface area of the wrinkles available for fuming, and optionally increasing the wrinkle pitch-i.e., expanding the wrinkles while reducing the number of them. For example, a filter according to the present invention may have 15 channels at the downstream end of the downstream core with a depth of about 0.45 mm and a pitch of about 1.5 mm; Another filter could have channels 0.32 mm deep with a pitch of 1.05 mm, the number of channels being 23. The crease crest is generally attached to the outer wrapper and is not effective for filtration, so the area of the pleated wrap available for fume filtration in these examples is generally slightly less than the total crease surface area.

The first wrapper comprises 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 longitudinally downstream from the upstream end of the downstream core. A channel of can be defined, each channel extending only a portion of the length of the downstream core, wherein at least a 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 between 2.5 mm and 23 mm, more preferably between 3 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 3.5 mm and 9 mm. The channels or channels extending from one end (upstream or downstream) may be different in length than extending from the other end, or they may be the same length. The channels at both ends of the downstream core may be 7 to 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 should additionally ensure that the performance of the downstream core (tar retention, etc.) is acceptable and that the benefits of the invention (e.g., consistent pressure drop, increased stagnation) are obtained. it means.

The longitudinally extending core may comprise only the downstream core, or one or more (e.g., 1, 2, 3 or 4) additional element(s) (segments or Segments). Additional elements will be located upstream of the downstream core. The tobacco smoke filtering material can be, for example, any material (usually filamentous, fibrous, web or extruded) commonly used for the manufacture of tobacco smoke filters. The filtration material may be natural or synthetic filament soil, for example cotton or plastic, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or cellulose acetate filament soil. This can be, for example, natural or synthetic staple fibers, cotton wool, web materials, such as (usually creped) paper and synthetic nonwovens, and extruded materials (eg, starch, synthetic foam).

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

One or more additional elements may contain additive materials (e.g., activated carbon) suitable for use in cigarette filters (e.g., particulate) 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 (e.g., weakly basic anion exchange resins), sepiolite, silica gel, It may be alumina, molecular sieve, carbonaceous polymer resin, and diatomaceous earth. The particulate additive may be a mixture of two or more materials. The additive may include a flavoring agent-for example menthol, and for example, the additive may be sepiolite granules coated with menthol. Where the longitudinally extending core of the tobacco smoke filtration comprises fully enclosed (e.g., embedded) pocket(s) of the additive embedded therein, the additive is a particulate additive, e.g. activated carbon (see above). ), which is enclosed in the filtration material, for example, as a pod of particles or separate pockets of particulate additive substantially separate from and completely enclosed in the filtration material. In another embodiment, the fully enclosed (eg, embedded) pocket(s) of additive may be a brittle capsule or capsules, or one or a plurality of brittle microcapsules. The capsule(s) or microcapsule(s) may contain a variety of media-for example flavoring agents and/or liquids, solids or other materials to support, for example, smoke filtration. The use of capsules or microcapsules is well known in the art.

A further element may comprise a cylindrical plug extending in the longitudinal direction of the cellulose acetate filtration material. The cylindrical plug extending in the longitudinal direction of the cellulose acetate filtering material may further comprise a wrapper of, for example, a porous or non-porous plugwrap. Such wrapped filters/elements are known as “wrapped acetate” filters or filter elements.

The further element may optionally comprise a cylindrical plug extending in the longitudinal direction of the cellulose acetate filtration material further comprising particulate additives, for example with a wrapper of a porous or non-porous plugwrap. Such filters/elements are known as “active acetate” filters or filter elements.

A further element comprising tobacco smoke filtering material is a membrane of tobacco smoke filtering material having one (or at least one) pocket of additive (e.g., particulate additive) completely enclosed therein (e.g., embedded). May contain large cores. The rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtering material may optionally have an additional wrapper (eg, porous or non-porous) employed around the rod-shaped core. Providing a fully enclosed additive pocket within the core of the tobacco smoke filtering material has the effect of dripping the additive from the second end of the core (because there is a tobacco smoke filtering material between the additive pocket and the end of the core). A single piece of tobacco smoke filtering material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtering material having one (or at least one) pocket of additives (eg, particulate additives) completely enclosed therein (eg, embedded) The core extending in the longitudinal direction of can be produced, for example, by the method and apparatus disclosed in International Patent Publication No. 2006/059134.

Further elements comprising the tobacco smoke filtering material may include a rod-shaped core of the tobacco smoke filtering material and an additive (e.g., particulate additive) holding wrapper employed around the rod-shaped core, the additive holding wrapper being With additives (eg, particulate additives) attached to one or more portion(s) of the radially inner side, the additive retaining wrapper is additive free around its circumference at the downstream end of the core. The absence of the additive at the downstream end of the additive holding wrapper has the effect of dripping the additive from the downstream end of the core (because there is no additive over the wrapper of the second end of the core). Preferably, the additive holding wrapper is additive free around its circumference at both the downstream and upstream ends of the core. A longitudinally extending core of a tobacco smoke filtering material comprising a rod-shaped core of tobacco smoke filtering material and an additive (e.g., particulate additive) retaining wrapper employed around the rod-shaped core is disclosed in British Patent No. 2261152. It may be a filter element as such. The additive holding wrapper can be porous or non-porous.

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 (i.e., the downstream (e.g., lip) 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 downstream fluted cores and any additional elements comprising tobacco smoke filtering material) has a length of 10 to 30 mm, for example 14 to 27 mm, for example 17 to It can 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 of any circumference range traditionally used in smoking products (eg, c. 14 to c. 28 mm circumference).

The outer wrapper may be paper, for example a plugwrap paper, for example a rigid plugwrap paper. The outer wrapper can be porous or non-porous. The outer wrapper may be about 40 to about 120 g/m 2 basis weight paper. The outer wrapper can be, for example, a basis weight of about 80 to about 120 g/m2, for example, about 100 g/m2 for a standard (c. 24-25 mm) circumferential recess filter. In the case of a slim or ultra-slim recess filter (eg, downwardly circumferentially about 16-17 mm), the outer wrapper may be, for example, a lower basis weight plugwrap paper of 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 to 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 at the downstream end of the filter (e.g., tubular ) Is employed to define a cavity (eg, alone or with an outer wrapper). In this case, the second inner wrapper of the downstream core can be omitted, because an additional wrapper (e.g., an outer wrapper used to wrap the final recess filter) would be required to assemble the various segments of the filter. Because it can. However, the first inner wrapper of eg 80 g/m2 basis weight (e.g., embossed) lower basis weight outer wrapper of eg 40 g/m2 is used but still provides sufficient stiffness at the recess end. It will be appreciated that you can do it.

The first inner wrapper and/or the second inner wrapper may be colored or treated with a pigment to enhance the uniqueness of the end appearance. Preferably, the coloring or pigment is contrasted with, for example, a white filter 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 overwrapped (this type of known “CPA”) in the outer wrapper (overweight plugwrap) that defines the cavity when the machined recess filter is assembled. It can be wrapped in a second inner wrapper (as is usual in the case of the filter element). In other embodiments, the second inner wrapper may be omitted. It will be appreciated that these embodiments will produce a different end appearance than the embodiments in which 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 a filter comprising the filter element of the invention) is connected with a wrapped tobacco rod with one end of the filter facing the cigarette. The filter may be, for example, ring tipping (which is employed around the immediately adjacent end of the (wrapped) filter and rod so that most of the filter wrap is exposed) or, more preferably, full tip overlap. tipping overwrap) (which is employed around the entire filter length and the proximal end of the tobacco rod) to be connected with the wrapped tobacco rod. The cigarette may include a tip overlap (eg, of rigid tip paper) with the outer wrapper of the filter to provide the desired (eg, further increased) stiffness to the final recessed filter cigarette.

Any filter or filter cigarette according to the invention is non-ventilated, or by methods 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. Similarly, in ventilated products in which the vented full tip overlap is inherently air-permeable or may have vents, and both filter plug wraps and tip overlaps are present, the vent through the overlap is usually ventilated through the plug wrap. It will be matched with the donation. The ventilation hole through the filter plug wrap or the tip overlap, or the ventilation hole through both at the same time may be made by laser perforation in the manufacture of a filter or filter cigarette.

In the case where the vent in the filter or filter cigarette according to the invention is limited in the longitudinal direction of the product comprising an additive, for example activated carbon, it is preferably selected upstream, downstream of the additive and matched with the additive. It is limited to one or two areas. Thus, the vent in the filter or filter cigarette 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 portion), depending on the required ventilation and filtration performance, and It may be limited to one or two areas selected by matching this. Preferably, the vent in the filter or filter cigarette according to the invention can be confined in the longitudinal direction of the filter or filter cigarette, for example matched with an additional element which is a “active acetate” filter or filter element, as described above. . For example, vents upstream of and/or mating with the first additive pocket (if any) are often desirable. When more than one is present, there may be a vent between portions (or pockets or patches) of the second additive.

In a further aspect according to the invention, a plurality of (e.g., 2, 4, 6, etc.) filters (or Filter elements). Multiple rods and methods of making them are known in the art.

The invention will be described 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 schematically illustrates a recess filter according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
4 schematically illustrates a recess filter according to a further different embodiment of the present invention.

Example

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention "recess SPF" filter tip. The filter comprises a further element 3 comprising tobacco smoke filtering material and a longitudinally extending cylindrical core comprising 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 inward towards the longitudinally extending inner body in the form of an additional hollow cylindrical tube. It includes an extruded HDPE section of length. The bones (along with the radially inner side of the cylindrical tube and the radially outer side of the inner body) define 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 filtering material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers and has a length of 18 mm. A further element (3) is adjacent to the upstream end of the extruded downstream element (1), and elements (3) and (1) are plug wraps (4) with a basis weight of 27 g/m2 applied by means known in the art. Is connected using. An outer wrapper 5 of 100 g/m 2 plugwrap is employed around the longitudinally extending core (ie elements 3 and 1) so as to completely overlap the core; 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) and is 4 mm long at the downstream end of the filter. It defines a recess (6) or a tubular cavity. The outer wrapper is applied by means well known in the art. This creates a recess filter with a total length of 27 mm.

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

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 a tobacco smoke filtering material; And a longitudinally extending cylindrical core comprising a second further element 7a comprising tobacco smoke filtering material. The downstream element 1a is 5 mm in the form of a longitudinally extending cylindrical tube with six spaced valleys extending radially inward toward the longitudinally extending inner body in the form of an additional hollow cylindrical tube. It includes an extruded HDPE section of length. The bones (along with the radially inner side of the cylindrical tube and the radially outer side of the inner body) define six longitudinally extending channels. The hollow tubular inner body defines an additional longitudinally extending channel inside the inner body. Accordingly, the cross-sectional profile of the HDPE section 1a is similar to that shown in Fig. 1(2). The first further element 3a comprises a cylindrical plug of tobacco smoke filtering material in the form of 8 mm long cellulose acetate fibers and is located directly upstream of the extruded section 1a. The second further element 7a comprises a "active acetate" segment in the form of a cylindrical plug of tobacco smoke filtering material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers comprising particulate additives 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 having a basis weight of 27 g/m 2 by means known in the art. The outer wrapper 5 of 100 g/m 2 plugwrap is employed around the longitudinally extending core (ie elements 7a, 3a and 1a) so as to completely overlap the core; 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 therearound) and is 4 mm long at the downstream end of the filter. It defines a recess (6) or a tubular cavity. The outer wrapper is applied by means well known in the art. This creates a recess filter with a total length of 27 mm.

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

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention "recess CPA" filter tip. The filter comprises a longitudinally extending (eg cylindrical) core comprising a downstream core 8 and a further 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 filtering material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers comprising particulate additives 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 having a basis weight of 80 g/m 2. The plug wrap forming the inner wrapper 9 is embossed with 15 grooves with a depth of about 0.45 mm and a pitch of about 1.5 mm. The plug is wrapped by an inner wrapper 9 so that at the upstream end about 4 mm in length is surrounded by an area of the plug wrap that is not embossed ('bar area') and at the downstream end the remaining 4 mm length is embossed. Surrounded by an area of ('flute area'); The embossed area ('flute area') of the inner wrapper of the plugwrap 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 an outer wrapper 12 in the form of a rigid plugwrap with a basis weight of 50 g/m2, the downstream end of the outer wrapper 12 is also a wrapper around it. It extends beyond 4 mm at the downstream end of the core 8 employed in the [with inner wrapper 9] to define a tubular cavity of 4 mm in length at the downstream end of the filter. The embossed area of the inner wrapper 9 extends longitudinally into the downstream core from the downstream end of the downstream core upstream and from the downstream end of the downstream core with the outer wrapper 12 employed around the inner wrapper. It defines 15 grooves or channels extending longitudinally into the cavity/recess area downstream. Unique fluting of 4 mm length defined by the embossed pattern of the outer wrapper 12 and the inner wrapper 9 by a combination of the plug wrap's rigid outer wrapper 12 and the plug wrap's embossed inner wrapper 9 It will be appreciated that it creates a stiff recess 10 with a ended end appearance.

4 shows a recess 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 filtering material in the form of cellulose acetate fibers comprising particulate additives 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 basis weight 80 g/m 2. The plug wrap forming the inner wrapper 9a is embossed with 15 grooves with a depth of about 0.45 mm and a pitch of about 1.5 mm. The plug is wrapped by an inner wrapper 9a so that at the upstream end about 5 mm in length is surrounded by the unembossed plug wrap area ('bar area') and at the downstream end the remaining 6 mm length of the embossed plug wrap. It is surrounded by an area ('flute area'). The downstream core 8a and the additional element 11 are joined together by an outer wrapper 12a in the form of a rigid plugwrap of a basis weight of 100 g/m2; The downstream end of the outer wrapper 12 extends 4 mm beyond the downstream end of the downstream core 8a with the wrapper employed around it to define a 4 mm long tubular cavity at the downstream end of the filter. The inner wrapper 9a defines 15 grooves or channels extending longitudinally upstream from the downstream end of the downstream core together with the outer wrapper 12a, and in the recess/cavity formed by the outer wrapper 12a. Is visualized in

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

It will be appreciated that the filters described above, including multi-segment recess filters, can be manufactured by conventional means. It will be appreciated that the filters described above can be used to manufacture 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 cigarette. The filter may be, for example, a ring tip (which is employed around the immediately adjacent end of the (wrapped) filter and rod so that most of the filter wrap is exposed) or, more preferably, a full tip overlap (which is the total filter length and (Adopted around the proximal end of the tobacco rod) can be engaged with the wrapped tobacco rod. The cigarette may include a tip overlap (eg, of rigid tip paper) with the outer wrapper of the filter to provide the desired (eg, further increased) stiffness to the final recessed filter cigarette.

Claims (20)

A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtering material; And an outer wrapper employed around the core extending in the longitudinal direction; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from a downstream end of the core, wherein
(a) the longitudinally extending core comprises a hollow tube of tobacco smoke filtering 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. And the valley defines a plurality of channels extending longitudinally therebetween;
(c) wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises a longitudinally extending downstream core of the tobacco smoke filtering material; A first inner wrapper employed around the downstream core; And, optionally, a downstream element comprising a second inner wrapper employed around the first inner wrapper; The first inner wrapper has a profiled (eg, corrugated) outer surface defining at least one longitudinally extending channel with the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper;
A tobacco smoke filter, wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core and/or the downstream end of the first inner wrapper extends beyond the downstream end of the core thereby defining 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 filtering material in which the longitudinally extending core does not extend the entire length of the core. A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtering material; And an outer wrapper employed around the core extending in the longitudinal direction;
Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises a downstream element comprising a longitudinally extending tube having a plurality of spaced valleys extending generally inwardly towards a longitudinally extending inner body, wherein the valleys Defining a plurality of channels extending longitudinally therebetween;
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element wherein a downstream end of an outer wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core thereby defining 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 having an inner wall(s) defining a further longitudinally extending channel. 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. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
Tobacco smoke filter or filter element in which the downstream element is formed by extrusion. A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtering material; And an outer wrapper employed around the core extending in the longitudinal direction;
A downstream core wherein the longitudinally extending core extends in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco smoke filtering material; A first inner wrapper employed around the downstream core; And, optionally, a downstream element comprising a second inner wrapper employed around the first inner wrapper; The first inner wrapper has a profiled (eg, corrugated) outer surface defining at least one longitudinally extending channel with the second inner wrapper or outer wrapper;
A tobacco smoke filter, wherein the downstream end of the outer wrapper employed around the core and/or the downstream end of the first inner wrapper extends beyond the downstream end of the core thereby defining a cavity at the downstream end of the filter, or Filter element. The method of claim 7,
A first inner wrapper is employed around a core having a profiled (e.g., corrugated) surface facing the outer wrapper or second wrapper to define the channel(s) extending longitudinally with the second wrapper or outer wrapper. Cigarette smoke filter or filter element. The method according to claim 7 or 8,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element in which at least one longitudinally extending channel extends longitudinally upstream from a downstream end of the downstream core. The method of claim 9,
The channel or tobacco smoke filter or filter element in which each channel extends only a portion of the length of the downstream core. 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 filtering material upstream of the downstream element. The method of claim 10 or 11,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising a longitudinally extending cylindrical plug of cellulose acetate filtering material, optionally further comprising a wrapper of a porous or non-porous plugwrap. 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 filtering material, wherein the further element further comprises a particulate additive and optionally further comprises a wrapper of a porous or non-porous plugwrap. A longitudinally extending core comprising tobacco smoke filtering material; And an outer wrapper employed around the core extending in the longitudinal direction; Wherein the longitudinally extending core comprises one or more channels extending longitudinally upstream from a downstream end of the core; A tobacco smoke filter or filter element wherein a downstream end of an outer wrapper employed around the core extends beyond the downstream end of the core thereby defining a cavity at the downstream end of the filter. The method of claim 14,
A tobacco smoke filter or filter element whose longitudinally extending core comprises a hollow tube of tobacco smoke filtering material. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
A filter or filter element in which the outer wrapper is paper, for example plugwrap paper. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
A filter or filter element in which the outer wrapper is a paper exhibiting a basis weight of about 40 to about 120 g/m2. Cigarette smoke filter substantially as described above with reference to any of the accompanying drawings. A filter cigarette comprising a filter or filter element according to any one of claims 1 to 18 connected to a wrapped tobacco rod with the first end of the core toward the cigarette. Comprising a plurality of (e.g., 2, 4, 6, etc.) filters (or filter elements) according to any one of claims 1 to 18 connected end-to-end integrally in a mirror-image relationship. Multiple rods.

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