MXPA97008555A - Paper for cigar with characteristics of ashes, improves - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a paper wrapper for a smoking article and to improve the characteristics of the ashes of the smoking article itself. Specifically, it has been unexpectedly discovered that the characteristics of the ashes of a paper wrapper are markedly improved when a calcium carbonate filler having an average particle size of about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns is incorporated into the paper. The paper casings made with the calcium carbonate particles of the present invention have superior ash characteristics as compared to paper casings incorporating larger or smaller sizes of calcium carbonate particles. In addition, the characteristics of the ashes of the paper are improved without having to alter the total levels of the filler in the pap

Description

PAPER FOR CIGAR WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ASHES, IMPROVED FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed generally to a method for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a paper used to build smoking articles. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a process for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a cigarette paper by adding to the paper a calcium carbonate filler having a particle size of about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Smoking articles such as cigars are conventionally made by wrapping a column of tobacco on a white wrapping paper. At one extreme, the smoking article usually includes a filter through which the article is smoked. The filters are attached to the smoking articles using a nozzle paper or end which adheres to the white roll paper. Roll papers and nozzle or end papers used for REF: 25746 to build articles for smoking are typically made from linen or other cellulosic fibers and contain a filler, such as calcium carbonate. In addition to being used to hold the cigar together, cigarette wrapping papers and nozzle or end papers also contribute to and control many properties and physical characteristics of the cigar. For example, cigarette wrapping paper affects the speed at which the cigar burns, the number of puffs of smoke per cigar, and the release of total tar per puff of smoke. Another property of the cigar that is affected by the envelope is the appearance and characteristics of the ashes that are formed when the cigar burns. Ideally, the ashes of the cigar should be cohesive, should not be flayed in the cigar, and should maintain an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The quality of the ashes of the cigar is generally determined by evaluating the ash according to four criteria. The first criterion is the color of the ashes. In general, whiter ash has a more aesthetic appearance and is thus more desirable. Another important characteristic of cigar ashes is its cohesiveness and its ability to prevent excessive bleaching. The ashes should not be exfoliated from the cigar unless the cigar is passed quickly or tapped on an object. In addition, once the cigar is hit, the ashes must break into aggregates and not disintegrate. The last two criteria for evaluating cigar ashes depend mostly on the paper used to wrap the cigarette and not on the characteristics of the ashes of the tobacco column. For example, cigar ashes were also evaluated by the thickness of the carbonization line that appears on the envelope when a cigar burns. Thinner carbonization lines are preferred. Finally, the last criterion is the degree to which the cigar wrap stops downstream (towards the filter) from the ashes as the cigar is smoked. High quality wrapping paper will not stain or discolor the length of the cigar when the cigar is smoked. In the past, several methods have been devised to improve the characteristics of the ashes of a smoking article. For example, previous efforts to improve the appearance of the ashes have included changing the type of cellulosic fiber used to make the paper for cigarette wrapping. Also, ash modifiers have been added to paper or tobacco. In particular, it has been proposed in the past to add starches or salts to paper. Fortunately, the ash modifiers can adversely affect the taste of the cigar. Thus, there is a need for a method to improve the characteristics of the cigar ashes without affecting other properties of the cigar. In particular, there is a need for a method that improves the characteristics of the ashes of a paper for wrapping cigars without adversely affecting the permeability of the paper, or the taste, the rate of incineration, the number of puffs, or the release of tar. by puff of a cigar that incorporates the paper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes and addresses several disadvantages of prior art constructions and methods. In general, the present invention is directed to a method for improving the characteristics of the ashes of paper for wrapping cigars by incorporating into the paper a filler with a particle size in a narrowly defined range. In a preferred embodiment, the filler material is calcium carbonate having an average particle size of about "0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns." Cigar wrap papers incorporating this filler unexpectedly provide a whiter ash and more cohesive ash that the wrapping papers made with a calcium carbonate filler of a larger or smaller particle size In the past, as described in US Patent No. 5,161,551 to Sanders et al., which is incorporated herein by reference , a calcium carbonate filler was used in an attempt to improve the characteristics of the ashes of a paper wrapper.Specifically, Sanders et al., describe the use of calcium carbonate in paper for wrapping cigars that has a size average particle size between approximately 0.02 microns and approximately 2 microns, Sanders et al. icas of the ashes of a paper can be improved either by decreasing the particle size of the filler or by increasing the level of filler in the paper. With respect to particle size, Sanders et al. teaches that cigar ashes are further improved when the particle size of calcium carbonate is approximately 0.07 microns. Contrary to Sanders et al., However, the inventors of the present invention have discovered that the characteristics of the ashes of a wrapping paper are unexpectedly superior when calcium carbonate having an average particle size of 100% is incorporated into the paper. between approximately 0.15 microns between approximately 0.15 microns, as opposed to the 0.07 microns taught in the previous reference. The inventors of the present invention have also discovered that the characteristics of the ash are adversely affected if the particle size of the filler increases or decreases from the critical range described above. Such a finding is contrary to Sanders et al. who teach that the characteristics of the ashes improve when the tapu 'particle decreases. In addition, Sanders et al. they teach that the ashes of a wrapping paper improve if the level of filler increases. Unfortunately, increasing the level of the filler can adversely affect the rate of incineration, the number of puffs of smoke, and the release of the tar from the smoking article. Increasing the amount of filler also decreases the strength of the paper, making it more likely that the paper will break when it is fed through the high-speed cigar making machines. According to the present invention, on the other hand, the characteristics of the ashes of the paper can be improved without having to change or alter the level of the total filler in the paper. In other words, according to the present invention, the characteristics of the ashes of the paper improve only as a function of the particle size of the filler. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a cigarette paper and of a cigarette incorporating the paper. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a cigarette paper without having to increase the levels of filler. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the characteristics of the ashes of the cigarette paper by incorporating into the paper a calcium carbonate filler having an average particle size within a narrowly defined range. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the characteristics of cigarette paper ashes by incorporating into the paper a calcium carbonate filler having an average particle size of about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving the whiteness- and cohesiveness of cigar ashes.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a process for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a paper wrapper for a smoking article. The process includes the step of incorporating into a paper wrapper a filler comprising calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate has an average particle size between about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns, particularly about 0.2 microns to about 0.4 microns, and more particularly, about 0.25 microns to about 0.35 microns. The filler can be added to the paper wrap in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight, and more particularly about 25% to about 35% by weight. According to the present invention, the paper wrap can have a basis weight of about 18 gsm to about 60 gsm, but typically it is about 22 gsm to about 32 gsm. The paper wrapper may have a permeability of about 5 Coresta units to about 80 Coresta units. In one embodiment, the paper wrap can be coated an additive to control the ineineration. The additive for controlling the incineration, for example, can be an alkali metal salt, an acetate, a phosphate salt or mixtures thereof. For example, the additive for controlling the incineration may be a citrate and may be added to the paper in an amount of about 0.3% to about 12% by weight. The present invention is also directed to a process for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a smoking article. The ashes of the smoking article are improved by adding to the paper wrap used to build the article to smoke a calcium carbonate filler having an average particle size of about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns. By incorporating the above calcium carbonate filler into a paper wrapper, the ash characteristics of the smoking article are unexpectedly whiter and more cohesive than the ash formed from a smoking article made a paper wrapper containing a filler. of calcium carbonate that has particles of larger or smaller size. The other objects, features and aspects of the present invention are discussed in more detail below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES It should be understood by one skilled in the art that the present discussion is a description of the exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the broader aspects of the present invention, broader aspects which are incorporated in the exemplary construction. The present invention is directed generally to a method for generating the characteristics of the ashes of a wrapping paper and to improve the characteristics of the ashes of a smoking article incorporating the wrapping paper. The ash characteristics are improved by adding to the paper a calcium carbonate filler having an average particle size in a narrowly defined critical range. Specifically, the average particle size of the calcium carbonate should be between about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns, and more particularly between about 0.2 microns to about 0.4 microns. In addition, the characteristics of the ashes of the paper are improved out having to increase the amount of filler contained in the paper.

By incorporating into a paper casing a calcium carbonate filler having an average particle size in the range defined above, the characteristics of the paper ash are surprisingly and unexpectedly improved compared to papers containing fillers having particles of Smaller or larger size. This discovery is particularly unexpected in view of US Patent No. 5, 161, 151 of Sanders et al. which teaches that the characteristics of the ash are optimized to a particle size of 0.07. In this way, the teachings of Sanders et al. they are far from the present invention and the improvements described herein. Paper wrappers for smoking articles made in accordance with the present invention exhibit whiter ash when incinerated as compared to paper wrappers containing larger or smaller size calcium carbonate particles. Although known, the whiter appearance of the ash may be due in part to the fact that the particle size of the calcium carbonate filler used in the present invention corresponds to approximately half the wavelength of visible light. Within this range of particle size, it is believed that calcium carbonate is more effective at dispersing light, giving the ash a whiter appearance. Another unexpected benefit is that the ashes are also more cohesive than the constructions of the prior art. The construction of a cigarette wrapping paper made in accordance with the present invention will now be discussed in more detail. In general, the wrapping paper can be made of cellulosic fibers obtained, for example, from flax, softwood or hardwood. To vary the properties of the paper as desired, various mixtures of cellulosic fibers can be used. The degree to which the refined fiber can also be varied. The total filler load added to the paper wrapper can be between about 20% to about 40% by weight, and particularly between about 25% to about 35% by weight. The filler can be made entirely of calcium carbonate particles or it can be a mixture of different types of materials. In most applications, however, the filler should be primarily calcium carbonate having the desired particle size range. According to the present invention, the characteristics of the ashes of the paper can be substantially and unexpectedly improved without having to increase or decrease the total levels of filler.

The permeability of a paper wrapper for smoking articles made according to the present invention can be generally about 5 Coresta units up to about 80 Coresta units. In most applications, the permeability should be between approximately 15 Coresta units up to approximately 55 Coresta units. The basis weight of the cigarette wrapping paper is usually between about 18 gsm to about 60 gsm and more particularly between about 22 gsm to about 32 gsm. The wrapping papers according to the present invention can be made within any of those ranges. Cigarette paper can also be treated with an additive to control the incineration. Such additives for controlling incineration may include, for example, alkali metal salts, acetates, phosphate salts, or mixtures thereof. A particularly preferred additive for controlling the incineration is a mixture of potassium citrate and sodium citrate. The additive for controlling the incineration can be added to the paper in an amount of about 0.3% to about 12% by weight, and more particularly between about 0.3% to about 3% by weight.

As described above, the present invention is directed to incorporating in a paper wrapper a calcium carbonate filler that improves the characteristics of the ashes of the paper and of a smoking article constructed with the paper. As stated above, the calcium carbonate filler should have an average particle size of from about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns, and more particularly from about 0.2 microns to about 0.4 microns. As used herein, the particle size of the filler is measured and determined by a sedimentation method using, for example, a Sedigraph. In one embodiment, the calcium carbonate filler can be combined with water to form a filler suspension. The suspension can then be added to a suspension of cellulosic fibers when the paper is being formed. For example, the fiber suspension can be formed from a fiber supply that has been baked in a digestion, washing, bleaching and refining device. To form the paper wrapper, the resulting fiber slurry and suspension mixture can be spread on a mesh or set of screens and dried. In addition to being added to the fiber suspension when the paper is formed, it is also believed that the calcium carbonate filler can be coated on the paper after it has been formed. A particular commercially available calcium carbonate filler that can be used in the present invention is the ULTRAPAQUE commercialized by Specialty Minerals, Inc. of Ada s, Massachusetts. ULTRAPAQUE contains precipitated, rhombohedral calcium carbonate particles that have an average size of approximately 0.3 microns. The calcium carbonate particles have a surface area of about 7.5 m: / g. The present invention can be better understood with reference to the following examples.

EXAMPLE NO. 1 The characteristics of the ashes of the paper wrapper incorporating calcium carbonate filler ALBACAR 5970 having an average particle size of 1.9 microns were compared with the characteristics of the ashes of a paper that incorporates calcium carbonate filler ULTAPAQUE that has an average particle size of approximately 0.3 microns. Both the ALBACAR 5970 filler and the ULTRAPAQUE filler were obtained from Specialty Minerals, Inc. of Adams, Massachusetts.

The cigar wrappers were made incorporating the following ALBACAR 5970 filler blends and ULTRAPAQUE filler: TABLE I: Filler Mixtures Used to Build Paper Wrappings All casing samples had a basic weight of 25 gsm and a total filler load of 28% by weight. Each sample also had 0.6% by weight of citrate. The cigars were then made using a laboratory cigar-making machine using the paper wraps described above. Each of the cigars was lit and allowed to burn freely in a static mode. When the cigar burned, the ashes were observed and evaluated. Photographs were also taken of the ashes that were formed. For this experiment, it was discovered that when the amount of ULTRAPAQUE was increased in the paper, the ashes became noticeably whiter and somewhat cohesive.

EXAMPLE NO. 2 Paper was also made to wrap cigars that represent hand made sheets incorporating ULTRAPAQUE calcium carbonate filler that has an average particle size of approximately 0.3 microns in a set and incorporating MULTIFEX calcium carbonate filler that has an average particle size of approximately 0.07 microns in another game. The MULTIFEX filler was obtained from Specialty Minerals, Inc. of Adams, Massachusetts. All the handmade sheets had a filler loading level of approximately 30% by weight and had a basis weight of approximately 27 gsm. Cigars were rolled by hand from handmade leaves. The cigars were lit and allowed to burn freely. When the cigar burned, the ashes formed were observed and evaluated.

For this example, it was discovered that the ashes formed from the rolled cigars in the paper that incorporates the ULTRAPAQUE filler were noticeably and unexpectedly whiter in comparison to the ashes created by the cigar that contained the paper that incorporates the MULTIFEX filler. The cigar ashes containing the ULTRAPAQUE filler were also somewhat more cohesive than the cigar ashes that contained the MULTIFEX filler. These and other modifications and variations of the present invention may be practiced by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which is set out more particularly in the appended claims. In addition, it should be understood that aspects of the different modalities can be exchanged in whole or in part. In addition, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only, and is not intended to limit the description further described in such appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (20)

1. A process for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a paper wrapper for a smoking article, characterized in that it comprises the step of: incorporating in a paper wrapper a filler comprising calcium carbonate, the calcium carbonate has a particle size average of between approximately 0.15 microns to approximately 0.5 microns.

2. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the calcium carbonate has an average particle size of between about 0.2 microns to about 0.4 microns.

3. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the calcium carbonate has an average particle size of between about 0.25 microns to about 0.35 microns.

4. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the filler is added to the paper wrap in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight.

5. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the paper wrap has a basis weight of about 18 gsm to about 60 gsm.

6. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the paper wrapper has a permeability of about 5 Coresta units up to about 80 Coresta units.

7. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises the step of coating the paper wrapper with an additive to control the incineration, the additive for controlling the incineration is a material selected from the group consisting of alkali metal salts, acetates , phosphate salts and mixtures thereof.

8. The process according to claim 1, characterized in that the additive for controlling the incineration comprises a citrate, the citrate is added to the paper casing in an amount of about 0.3% up to about 12% by weight.

9. A process for improving the characteristics of the ashes of a paper wrapper for a smoking article, the paper wrap has a basis weight of about 18 gsm to about 60 gsm, the process is characterized by the step of: adding to the wrap of paper a filler that essentially consists of calcium carbonate, the calcium carbonate has an average particle size of between about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns, the filler is added to the paper wrap in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight.

10. The process according to claim 9, characterized in that the calcium carbonate has an average particle size of between about 0.2 microns to about 0.4 microns.

11. The process according to claim 9, characterized in that the filler is added to the paper wrap in an amount of about 25% up to about 35% by weight.

12. The process according to claim 9, characterized in that the paper wrap has a basis weight of between about 22 gsm to about 32 gsm.

13. The process according to claim 9, characterized in that the paper wrapper has a permeability of about 5 Coresta units up to about 80 Coresta units.

14. The process according to claim 9, characterized in that the paper wrapper has a permeability of about 15 Coresta units up to about 55 Coresta units.

15. The process according to claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises the step of adding an additive to control the incineration to the paper wrapper. the.

The process according to claim 15, characterized in that the additive for controlling the incineration comprises a citrate.

17. The process according to claim 16, characterized in that the citrate is added to the paper wrap in an amount of about 0.3% to about 3% by weight.

18. A process for improving the characteristics of a smoking article, characterized in that it comprises the step of: adding to a paper wrapper incorporated in the article to smoke a filler comprising calcium carbonate, the calcium carbonate has an average particle size of about 0.15 microns to about 0.5 microns, the filler is added to the paper wrap in an amount of about 20% to about 40% by weight, the paper wrap has a basis weight of about 18 gsm to about 60 gsm and It has a permeability of approximately 15 Coresta units up to approximately 55 Coresta units, the paper wrap is coated with a citrate.

19. The process according to claim 18, characterized in that the calcium carbonate has an average particle size of between about 0.25 to about 0.35 microns.

20. The process according to claim 18, characterized in that the filler is present in the paper wrap in an amount of about 25% up to about 35% by weight.