RU136964U1 - SMOKING PRODUCT - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A smoking article having an incendiary rate of less than about 25 and a self-extinguishing rate of less than about 50, including: the amount of tobacco; a paper wrapper surrounding the indicated amount of tobacco and forming a tobacco rod having a mouthpiece end; a filter attached to the mouthpiece end of the tobacco rod; and an additive material deposited on a paper wrapper in the form of a pattern, wherein the additive material is applied in the form of an aqueous starch solution comprising propylene glycol as an anti-wrinkle agent in an amount of about 0.36 g / mdo to about 0.90 g / m 2. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the pattern includes at least two strip-like regions spaced apart in a longitudinal direction and arranged in a spiral around the tobacco rod. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the pattern includes a matrix of zones extending circumferentially and longitudinally along the tobacco rod. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which a layer containing calcium carbonate is additionally applied to the wrapper. The smoking article according to claim 4, wherein an additional material containing calcium carbonate is additionally applied to the base web of the paper wrapper, and said additional starch-based material is applied to additional material containing calcium carbonate. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pattern includes a first plurality of zones and a second plurality of zones arranged along spiral paths around the tobacco rod. The smoking article according to claim 6, in which the tobacco rod has an axis and the zone from the first set is separated from the corresponding zone of the second set �

Description

The present utility model relates generally to a smoking article and, more particularly, to a wrapper with stripes for use in the manufacture of cigarettes, related materials, processes and methods. Anti-wrinkle agents, specially formulated oxidized starch material, smoking articles and wrappers that exhibit characteristics of low tendency to ignite and / or low self-extinguishing, and patterns of strip-like regions (“strips”) are presented.

As part of the effort to reduce the frequency of accidental fires caused by unattended smoking articles, various authorities have established, are establishing and may set future restrictions on the combustion characteristics of smoking articles. One measure of the tendency of a smoking article to ignite a substrate beneath it is an indicator called an incendiary ability. To meet these stricter general government requirements, the incendiary rate of the smoking article should preferably be no more than about 25%. More preferably, the incendiary rate should be no more than about 20%; and even more preferably not more than about 10%. Accordingly, many manufacturers of smoking products are making efforts to meet such limits.

Reduced incendiary abilities are usually associated with the tendency of a smoking article to extinguish itself during smoldering between puffs. Generally speaking, consumers do not like to re-burn a cigarette, as this reduces the pleasure of smoking. A measure of the propensity of a smoking article to self-extinguish during free burning has been developed and is known as an indicator of self-extinguishing. The self-extinguishing rate has been recognized as a useful indicator for assessing the likelihood of consumer satisfaction from a smoking article, where a variety of methods have been used to reduce the burning ability. The average self-extinguishing rate for a smoking article should preferably be no more than about 80%, and / or the self-extinguishing rate for a position at an angle of 0 ° C should be no more than about 50%, and more preferably not more than about 25%.

FIRE ABILITY

Ignition ability is a standard test carried out as described in ASTM E 2187-04, “Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Power of Smoking Products,” which is provided for information. An indicator of incendiary ability measures the probability that a smoking article in a smoldering state, when placed on a substrate, will generate an amount of heat sufficient to maintain the smoldering of the tobacco rod. Low values of the index of incendiary ability are desirable, since such values are correlated with a reduced likelihood that a smoldering smoking article, being inattentively left unattended on the substrate, will cause ignition of the substrate.

SELF-EXTINGUISHING

Self-extinguishing here is an indication of the smoldering characteristics of a smoking article under conditions of free combustion. To evaluate self-extinguishing, a laboratory test is carried out at a temperature of 23 ° C ± 3 ° C and a relative humidity of 55% ± 5%, both of which must be monitored with registration with a hydrothermograph. Combustion products formed during the test are removed using the exhaust hood (s). Before testing, test smoking articles are conditioned at a relative humidity of 55% ± 5% and a temperature of 23 ° C ± 3 ° C for 24 hours. Just before the start of the test, smoking articles are placed in glass cups to ensure free air access.

The self-extinguishing test takes place inside the chamber or test box. To set fire to smoking products for testing, use a single-channel smoking machine or an electric lighter. During the test, the appliance or “corner holder” holds the tested smoking articles by their end fixation at angles of 0 ° (horizontal), 45 ° and / or 90 ° (vertical). Preferably, at each position at angles 0 °, 45 ° and 90 °, twenty (20) smoking articles are tested. If more than one appliance is used, the appliances are preferably positioned so that the smoking articles are turned away from each other to avoid interference. If the smoking article goes out before the front line of the smoldering carbonization zone reaches the rim paper, the result is evaluated as “self-extinguishing”; on the other hand, if the smoking article continues to smolder while the frontal line of the carbonization smoldering zone reaches the rim paper, then the result is evaluated as “no self-extinguishing”. Thus, for example, a self-extinguishing rate of 95% shows that 95% of the tested smoking products exhibit self-extinguishing in a free-burning environment; whereas a self-extinguishing rate of 20% shows that only 20% of the tested smoking articles exhibit self-extinguishing under these conditions of free burning.

The self-extinguishing rate can be expressed by the concepts “self-extinguishing rate at 0є”, “self-extinguishing rate at 45є” or “self-extinguishing rate at 90є”, each of which denotes the self-extinguishing rate when tested at a specific angle. In addition, the self-extinguishing rate can be expressed by the term “average self-extinguishing rate”, which refers to the value averaged from three angular positions: namely, the average value from (i) “self-extinguishing rate at 0є”, (ii) “self-extinguishing rate at 45є ”and (iii)“ self-extinguishing rate at 90є ”. The reference to “self-extinguishing value” or “self-extinguishing rate” does not imply a distinction between the self-extinguishing rate at 0є, the self-extinguishing rate at 45є, the self-extinguishing rate at 90є or the average self-extinguishing rate, and may refer to any of these.

When performing multi-pass printing operations, the operator typically adjusts the printing press at the very beginning before printing register marks. Accordingly, in order to understand the terms “first pass,” “second pass,” “third pass,” and so on, this should be understood in such a way that typically such passages will be preceded by a single pass (or printing device) for printing onto paper register marks, which marks are used to provide the desired alignment from aisle to aisle (from one printing device to another printing device).

ESSENCE OF A USEFUL MODEL

The embodiments disclosed herein include strip papers and smoking articles formed from such papers in which the additive includes an aqueous starch solution (or system) that includes an anti-wrinkle agent as presented herein to provide the following:

measures to counteract the tendency of an aqueous solution to create wrinkles and wrinkles on paper;

measures to counteract the tendency of the aqueous solution to cause transverse shrinkage of paper during printing operations so that it is possible to maintain a more accurate register of printing from one printing device to another printing device, especially in the transverse measurement of paper;

with the aforementioned countermeasures, it becomes possible to print intricate patterns on a basic paper web with aqueous systems of additional materials at commercially effective printing speeds;

the possibility of obtaining paper with stripes through a single pass intaglio printing with an aqueous solution, in combination with sufficiently effective drying devices;

more accurate multi-pass printing on striped paper with an aqueous solution; and

increased stability of the solution, including a longer operational shelf life, which reduce costs and waste during printing operations.

In addition, indications are given here of embodiments that include strip-like papers and smoking articles formed from those papers in which the additive includes an aqueous solution, preferably starch, that includes chalk at a level sufficient to reduce the tendency of the strip paper to cause self-extinguishing events , and to improve the appearance of the product for the consumer. Additional guidance includes embodiments that include features and conditions for maintaining the ability to control striped paper using machine vision during printing operations, despite the presence of chalk contained in the additive material.

Further, here are indications of embodiments that include strip-shaped papers and smoking articles formed from such papers in which strips are arranged according to patterns that help reduce the statistical frequency of self-extinguishing events while maintaining the desired level of incendiary rate.

In accordance with one aspect of the utility model, a paper wrapper for a smoking article may have a base web onto which additional material in the form of a pattern is applied using an aqueous starch solution that includes an anti-wrinkle agent. The paper wrapper may include areas of additive material that include starch in an amount of about 1.5 g / m ² and 1,2-propylene glycol in the range of about 0.36 g / m ² to about 0.90 g / m ² . If desired, the additional material may also include chalk or calcium carbonate in the range from about 0.64 g / m ² to about 1.2 g / m ² .

In accordance with another aspect of the utility model, a smoking article may include tobacco and a paper wrapper, where the paper wrapper includes an additive material pattern applied as an aqueous starch solution containing an anti-wrinkle agent.

Additional aspects of the utility model include, without limitation, drawings for additional material, characteristics of the components of the additional material. Further, the utility model relates to the final features of a smoking article, including without limitation an incendiary rate and self-extinguishing characteristics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many of the goals and advantages of the utility model will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the present description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are assigned to like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a paper wrapper according to a utility model;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a partial cross section of 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a montage composed of micrographs taken on a real wrapper with two layers of additional material; FIG. 4A-4G are connected to each other along said coincidence lines;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a wrapper according to yet another embodiment of a utility model;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a partial cross section of 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a wrapper according to a further embodiment of the utility model;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a wrapper according to yet another further embodiment of a utility model;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of 9-9 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9, a multilayer strip-like structure;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a wrapper having longitudinally extending strip-like regions;

FIG. 12 illustrates a top view of a wrapper for manufacturing a tobacco rod with longitudinally spaced strip-like regions;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of yet another additional embodiment of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a smoking article placed on a substrate, and illustrating the flow of air to a smoldering carbonization zone;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a smoking article removed from a substrate and illustrating the flow of air to a smoldering carbonization zone;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a smoking article in accordance with yet another embodiment;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged plan view of the expanded portion of the wrapper used in the construction of the smoking article of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged plan view of a wrapper for a smoking article illustrating yet another quadrangular pattern;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged top view of a wrapper for a smoking article illustrating an additional quadrangular pattern;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged top view of a wrapper for a smoking article illustrating yet another additional quadrangular pattern;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged top view of a wrapper for a smoking article illustrating a triangular pattern;

FIG. 22 is a side view of a smoking article using a wrapper from FIG. 18, with a smoking article laid on a substrate and oriented so that the first side portion of the smoking article is in contact with the substrate;

FIG. 23 is a side view of a smoking article using a wrapper from FIG. 18, with a smoking article laid on a substrate and oriented so that the second side portion of the smoking article is in contact with the substrate;

FIG. 24 is a side view of a smoking article using a wrapper from FIG. 18, with a smoking article laid on a substrate and oriented so that the third side portion of the smoking article is in contact with the substrate;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article of 25-25 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article 26-26 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article of 27-27 in FIG. 22;

FIG. 28 represents an embodiment with axially oriented slotted strip-like regions;

FIG. 29 is a partial cross-sectional view of 29-29 of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 represents an embodiment with two slots in strip-like regions oriented in the axial direction;

FIG. 31 is a partial cross-sectional view along 31-31 of FIG. thirty;

FIG. 32 represents an embodiment with a slit strip-like region in the axial direction;

FIG. 33 is a partial cross-sectional view of 33-33 of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is a side view of yet another embodiment of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 35 is an enlarged view of a partial cross section through 35-35 of FIG. 34;

FIG. 36 is a side view of an additional embodiment of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 37 is an enlarged view of a partial cross section through 37-37 of FIG. 36;

FIG. 38 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment similar to that of FIG. 31;

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 40 is a partial top view of a wrapper in yet another embodiment;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 42 is a side view of yet another additional embodiment of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 43 is a side view of another yet additional embodiment of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 44 illustrates an embodiment of a smoking article comprising longitudinally helical strip-like regions and a rotation angle β with an approximate arc tangent value (2 I / C), where I is the length of the tobacco rod and C is the circumference of the smoking article as described herein ;

FIG. 45 illustrates an embodiment of a smoking article comprising longitudinally helical strip-like regions and an inclination angle β of a helix with an approximate arc tangent value (4 I / C) as described herein;

FIG. 46 illustrates an embodiment of a smoking article comprising longitudinally spirally-shaped strip-like regions and a pitch angle β of the helix with an approximate arc tangent value (I / C) as described herein;

FIG. 47 illustrates a top view of a wrapper for manufacturing a tobacco rod with longitudinally extending strip-like regions;

FIG. 48 illustrates an embodiment of a smoking article, including longitudinally extending strip-like regions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article, as described herein;

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of a smoking article according to a utility model;

FIG. 50 is a schematic view of a wrapper having a serrated stripe-like region;

FIG. 51 is a schematic view of a wrapper in yet another embodiment of a toothed strip-like region;

FIG. 52 is a schematic view of a wrapper in a further embodiment of the toothed strip-like region;

FIG. 53 is a schematic view of a wrapper in yet another further embodiment of the toothed strip-like region;

FIG. 54 is a schematic view of a wrapper in another further embodiment of the toothed strip-like region;

FIG. 55 is a schematic view of a wrapper in yet another embodiment of a toothed strip-like region;

FIG. 56 is a schematic view of a wrapper in yet another embodiment of a toothed strip-like region;

FIG. 57 is a schematic view of a wrapper in yet another embodiment of a toothed strip-like region;

FIG. 58 is a cross-sectional view of a smoking article including another embodiment of longitudinally extending strip-like regions as described herein;

FIG. 59 is a schematic view of an intaglio printing process suitable for implementing embodiments of a printed strip wrapper, as presented herein; and

FIG. 60 is a series of photographs showing the effect of anti-wrinkle agents on a paper wrapper.

BASIC DEFINITIONS

With reference to FIG. 1, the present utility model relates to a smoking article 120, such as a cigarette, which preferably includes a tobacco rod 122 and a filter 132 attached to the tobacco rod 122 with wrapping paper 132. Preferably, the tobacco rod 122 includes a column of crushed tobacco (“cut filler”) and a wrapper 123 placed around the column of tobacco, which wrapper 123 is arranged in accordance with the following instructions. The tobacco rod 122 has an ignition or burning end 124 and a filter end 130 (which in the case of filterless cigarettes is called the mouthpiece end 130 of the cigarette 120). The term “chopped tobacco filling” is a designation according to an industry standard. Further, the tobacco rod 122 typically has a substantially circular cross section, although other oval cross sections and other shapes are within the scope of the utility model. The wrapper is glued along the longitudinal seam to form a tobacco rod 122.

The tobacco rod has a nominal length, measured from the edge 131 of the rim paper to the free end of the tobacco rod along the longitudinal axis of the smoking article. As an example, this nominal length may vary from about 60 mm to about 100 mm.

The paper “wrapper” 123 (see FIG. 2) typically includes a “base web” 140, which may be made of flax, wood pulp, cellulose fiber or the like, and may have a plurality of strip-like regions 126 applied to one or both sides. Preferably, a strip-like region 126 is applied to the inside of the wrapper 123, bearing in mind the side which wrapper 123 covers the column of tobacco in the tobacco rod 122.

In the manufacture of a base web suitable for composing a variety of embodiments of the printed banded paper disclosed herein, such production typically involves the manufacture of a roll of base web several feet wide (typically about 1 meter (3 feet) wide, or transverse), which is then cut on the bobbins. Printing operations are preferably carried out on a roll, but can be performed after longitudinal cutting. Preferably, the bobbins themselves will have a transverse dimension equivalent to the width required for the manufacture of the tobacco rod 122, or an integer multiple of such widths (for example, 1, 2 or 4 of such widths). The bobbins are adapted for use on typical cigarette making machines. The wrapper preferably has a transverse dimension that takes into account the nominal circumference of the tobacco rod and the overlapping seam. As a result, when the wrapper is subjected to longitudinal cutting, the smoking article formed from it always has a longitudinal seam with precisely measured overlap.

For the purposes of the utility model, the term “longitudinal” refers to the direction along the length of the tobacco rod (for example, along the axis 134 in FIG. 1), or along the length of the base web 140 (for example, along arrow 142 in FIG. 2) used in preparing the wrapper , which, in turn, can be used to make the tobacco rod.

For the purposes of the utility model, the term “transverse” refers to the direction oriented around the circumference of the tobacco rod 122 (see FIG. 1), or across the base fabric 140 (for example, arrow 144 in FIG. 2) used in preparing the wrapper, which, in turn, can be used to make the tobacco rod.

For the purposes of the utility model, the term “stripe-shaped region” or “zone” (“spot”) is region 126 (see FIG. 2) on the underlying base web 140 to which the additional material has been applied. The strip-like region typically constitutes a two-dimensional pattern, or matrix, on the base web 140. More specifically, the pattern or matrix may include repeating fragments in the longitudinal direction 142 of the base web 140, repeating fragments in the transverse direction 144 of the base web 123, and or fragments that are repeated in both transverse 144 and longitudinal 142 directions of the base web 140. Areas 126 of additional material are applied to the wrapper 123 to obtain satisfactory or improved characteristics of the ignition method Features and can also provide improved self-extinguishing performance.

Regions 126 of additive material are arranged along the base web 140 so that at least one region of additive material 126 is positioned between the first and second ends 128, 130 of the tobacco rod 122 in each finished smoking article, but more preferably at least one tobacco rod 122 two areas of additional material. The additive material region 126 preferably extends circumferentially at one or more spaced apart locations along axis 134, spanning the tobacco rod 122 of the smoking article 120 around the circumference. Although the additive material region 126 is shown to be substantially continuous in its circumferential direction, other configurations for additional material is also included in the scope of the utility model.

For convenience's sake, it should be noted that here, in the description of the sizes of various embodiments, the “width” of this strip or zone is longitudinal in the longitudinal direction 134 (see FIG. 1) of the tobacco rod 122, while the size in the circumferential direction will be expressed as “circumferential” , or "transverse", or "in the transverse direction."

Where the strip-like region 126 extends transversely to the base fabric 140 (or around the tobacco rod), the “width” of the strip-like region 126 is measured in the longitudinal direction 142 from the leading edge 146 to the trailing edge 148, and preferably ranges from about 5 mm to about 9 mm (from leading edge 146 to trailing edge 148), more preferably from about 5.5 mm to about 7.5 mm, and even more preferably from about 6 mm to about 7 mm. Further, the strip-like regions may have a “phase” 27 mm long (that is, the distance between the leading edge 146 of one strip-like region 126 and the leading edge 145 of the next adjacent strip-like region 126). Preferably, the strip-like regions of the additive material reduce the permeability of the wrapper to a range of from about 0 to about 12 units according to the CORESTA (Tobacco Research Cooperation Center) standard, more preferably in the range from about 0 to about 10 units according to the CORESTA standard.

For the purposes of the utility model, the term “strip-like interval” refers to the distance between the rear edge 148 of one strip-like region 126 and the front edge 146 of the adjacent strip-like region 126 on the base web 140 from which the wrapper is cut.

As used here, the expression "leading edge" refers to the edge 146 (see FIG. 1) of the strip-like region 126, which is closest to the looming carbonization zone during smoldering of the smoking article 120, the wrapper 123 of which contains the strip-like region 126, while the phrase " trailing edge "refers to the edge 148 of the strip-like region 126, which is farthest from the approaching carbonization zone during smoldering of the smoking article 120, the wrapper 123 of which contains the strip-like region 126. In the gear versions bschuyu width "W" measured from the strip-shaped area protruding the farthest point of the front edge to the furthest point of the set-back rear edge, as illustrated in FIG. 6 by the width value “W”.

As used herein, the term “serrated” refers to a pattern of multiple, spaced apart, geometrically formed spaces formed by removing a portion of an otherwise substantially continuous continuous strip-like region 126. A serrated pattern, or serrated strip, can also be described as serrated or designed like a periodic wave. As used here, the term "notches" refers to openings, or depressions, in the serrated edge, while the term "teeth" refers to protruding parts, or flat-topped protrusions (plateaus) on the serrated edge between the openings. As used here, the term "wavy" includes a serrated edge, as well as geometric shapes in a broader sense that have increasing and decreasing width characteristics.

For the purposes of the utility model, the term “layer” refers to the amount of additional material deposited on the base web from which the wrapper is cut. The strip-like region 126 may be formed from one or more layers 150, 152 (see FIG. 3), which may overlap one another. Each strip-like region 126 can be formed by applying one or more “layers” 150, 152 of an aqueous film-forming composition to the wrapper base web 140 to reduce paper permeability in the corresponding strip-like region. Alternatively, cellulosic material may also be used to form striated regions.

Where a film-forming composition is used, such a “film-forming composition” may preferably include water and a high concentration plugging agent, for example, from 14% to about 50% by weight. The film-forming compound may include one or more blocking agents, such as starch, alginate, cellulose or gum, and may also include calcium carbonate as a filler. Further, the film-forming composition preferably includes an anti-wrinkle agent. Where the film-forming compound is constituted by starch, a concentration of from about 14% to about 26% may be particularly advantageous, and at the moment, a concentration of about 16% is most preferred.

An “anti-wrinkle agent” is a material that prevents lateral shrinkage of the base web 140 (see FIG. 2) during printing or other processing operations. A suitable anti-wrinkle agent may be selected from the group consisting of plasticizing agents such as 1,2-propylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin and starch.

The film-forming composition may be applied to the base web of the wrapper 140 using processing techniques such as intaglio printing, digital printing, coating or spraying using a template, or any other suitable method. If desired, the strip-like regions 126 of additive material can be formed by printing multiple successive layers, for example, two or more successive layers, in a register or aligning one another. With specific tolerances in gravure printing equipment, for example, adjacent layers can be considered as being in a register where their respective overlying edges are offset by about 0.4 mm relative to each other when measured either in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the base web 140. Further, when the layers are used to form strip-like regions from the additive material, the material of adjacent layers may be the same or different. For example, one layer may be constituted by starch, while the next layer may be starch and calcium carbonate.

When discussing the amounts of application of additional material applied using intaglio printing methods, often use the values with "X" as a suffix to indicate the volumetric flow rate (dosage) of the application. The table below represents the volumetric equivalent strips for “X” in terms of a billion cubic microns, or “HSR”.

Volume Hcm Volume Hcm Volume Hcm 0.5X 3.4 2.5X 10.7 4,5X 19.9

1.0X 4.6 3.0X 12.3 5,0X 22.4 1,5X 6.8 3,5X 13.6 5.5X 24.7 2.0X 10 4.0X 17.8 6.0X 27.8

When the phrase “weight ratio” is used here in relation to the starch component of a starch solution, the “weight ratio” is the ratio of the weight of the additional material compared to the weight of starch used to prepare the starch solution. Moreover, for purposes of a utility model, references to “X% starch solution” refer to an aqueous starch solution in which the weight of starch is X% of the weight of the solution (for example, the weight of starch divided by the sum of the weight of starch and the weight of the aqueous component).

The wrapper includes a base web that is typically air permeable. Wrap permeability is typically indicated in CORESTA units. CORESTA units measure the permeability of paper, expressed as a volumetric flow rate (i.e., cm ³ / s) per unit area (i.e., cm ² ) per unit pressure drop (i.e., centimeters of water). The base fabric of the traditional wrapper also has well-known values of the base weight, measured in grams per square meter (g / m ² ). The permeability and base weight of the base web of a typical paper for smoking products commonly used in industry are shown in the table below:

Permeability in CORESTA units The basis weight (g / m ²⁾ 24 25 33 25 46 25

60 26

For utility model purposes, the preferred wrapper base web has a permeability of at least about 20 CORESTA units. More preferably, the wrapper has a permeability of more than about 30 CORESTA units, for example, conventional base webs having nominal permeability values of about 33 and about 46 CORESTA units, with a base weight of about 25 g / m ² . For some applications, the base web may have a permeability of more than about 60 units according to the CORESTA standard, or more than about 80 units according to the CORESTA standard, or even higher permeability values.

SCHEMATIC IMAGES COMPARED TO REAL VIEWS

Images of cross sections drawn through strip paper, such as in FIG. 3, are useful schematic illustrations of a paper web having strip-like regions formed from one or more deposited layers, and application methods such as such strip-like papers are made. However, such schematic representations do not accurately show the actual cross-sectional structures of the base web, or the actual cross-sectional structures of the base web on which one or more layers of the additive material were applied, or the actual cross-sectional structure of these layers of the additive material in the final banded paper product.

More specifically, FIG. 4 is an assembly of microphotographs taken from a cross section of a banded wrap of the type discussed above or elsewhere in the present description. Microphotographs in FIG. 4 cover the actual length of the wrapper, having a length of about 2.1 mm, on which additional material was applied in two layers; one layer containing starch and calcium carbonate, and one layer having starch, but without calcium carbonate. For prefabricated installation in FIG. 4, coincidence lines are plotted so as to easily distinguish the relationship between the various parts of FIG. four.

Separate micrographs in FIG. 4 show a real paper sample with a magnification of 2500 times. Technologically, real banded paper was cut into sections a few millimeters long and coated with Spurr ^TM epoxy. The coated paper was then cut into transverse sections 5 μm thick (micrometers) using a Leica Ultracut UCT ultra-microtome equipped with a glass blade. The sample was placed on a carbon adhesive disc attached to an aluminum stand, and a 15 nm (pound) gold-palladium coating was sprayed using a Cressington 208HR vacuum sputter operating in an argon atmosphere. The sample was photographed to obtain images of neighboring overlapping areas using a Scanning Electron Microscope for Environmental Research (ESEM) model FEI XL30, operating at a potential difference of 15 kV in high vacuum mode.

FIG. 4A, 4B depict a portion of the base web 140 that does not contain any additional material. The base web 140 includes a plurality of randomly distributed light regions (e.g., 160) that represent calcium carbonate particles embedded in the base web during paper formation. The base web 140 also includes many darker inclusions 162, some of which are elongated, others are rounded, which are cuttings of fibers used in the paper preparation process. The base web 140 has a pair of surfaces 161, 163, which can be characterized as having irregular roughness at this magnification level, and having both calcium carbonate particles and fibers randomly distributed along surface regions. The base web 140 itself has a thickness that, at best, can also be described as arbitrary, but having some statistical average, or nominal, value.

When the first portion, or layer, of the additive material 164 was applied (see FIG. 4C), the additive material appears on the surface of the base fabric 140 mainly due to the presence of chalk (or calcium carbonate) in the material. In the sample, which was increased by FIG. 4, a second portion, or layer, of additional material 166 (see FIG. 4C) was applied to the surface of the base web 140 and placed on the first layer 164. The second layer 166 begins at about 168 (FIG. 4C). While it seems that the second layer 166 is not aligned so that it starts from the same place as the first layer 164, the tolerances provided in application methods such as printing do not allow effective control of the layers within any tolerance less than about 0.3 mm. From the magnification scale shown in the prefabricated installation of the images in FIG. 4, the distance between the beginning of the first layer and the beginning of the second layer is about 0.12 mm; the distance is well within the minimum tolerance noted above.

When studying the first layer, as far as it continues throughout FIG. 4C-4G, some observations can be made about the first layer 164 containing starch and calcium carbonate:

(i) layer 164 is not continuous in the direction of the base web 140;

(ii) layer 164 does not have uniform thickness;

(iii) layer 164 has an uneven thickness;

(iv) layer 164 does not have a smooth surface; and

(v) the actual thickness of the first layer 164 may be greater than the actual thickness of the second layer 166, even if the second layer is usually thicker than the first layer.

A similar study of the second layer 166, which does not include starch, as this layer runs along FIG.4C-4G, allows us to make several similar conclusions:

(i) the second layer 166 is not continuous in the direction of the base web 140;

(ii) the second layer 166 does not have a uniform thickness;

(iii) the second layer 166 has an uneven thickness;

(iv) the second layer 166 tends to have a smooth surface, but the base web (paper) has areas; for example, 170 (FIG. 4D), 172, 174 (FIG. 4E) and 176 (FIG. 4F), which lack the additional material constituting the second layer 166.

Such differences, which are discussed above, demonstrate that the schematic descriptions of paper with one or more layers of additive material significantly differ from the results of the real environment when applying one or more layers of additive material to the base web 140. Accordingly, while the schematic representations of the layers of the additive of the material, the dosages during application are fairly objectively shown, which could be used as instructions for etching the application areas on a plate cylinder for I intaglio printing or the like, these schematic representations accurately show the structure of the final wrapper, prepared by applying one or more layers of additional material to the base fabric.

ILLUSTRATIVE PERFORMANCE EMBODIMENT - CONTINUOUS STRIP-FIGURE

With reference to now FIG. 10, a currently preferred embodiment of a multi-layer application of an additive material for forming a continuous strip-like configuration by multiple application of an additive material is presented, with a strip width in the range of about 6 to 7 mm. The first strip layer 210 may be applied at a dosage of 4X, and may include an aqueous solution containing approximately 16% starch, 60% chalk or calcium carbonate and 60% 1,2-propylene glycol. The second layer 212 may be applied at a lower dosage of 3.5X, and may include the same solution as the first layer. The third layer 214 may be applied with an even lower dosage of 3X and may include an aqueous solution containing 16% starch and 60% 1,2-propylene glycol. In such a composition, a 60% value for starch and propylene glycol means that the weight of these components is included at 60% of the weight of starch in an aqueous solution. After drying the various layers, the resulting base fabric has areas of additive material in which starch is present in an amount of about 1.5 g / m ² , 1,2-propylene glycol is present in an amount ranging from about 0.36 to about 0.90 g / m ² and calcium carbonate is present in an amount ranging from about 0.64 to about 1.2 g / m ² .

When propylene glycol is turned on in this embodiment, as described, it is possible to achieve related advantages, which are summarized above when describing the essence of the utility model and are described in more detail later in the following description.

When you turn on the chalk in this embodiment, as described, you can reduce the tendency of cigarettes with striped paper to self-extinguish, improve the appearance of the product for the user and achieve these and other related benefits, which are summarized above when describing the essence of the utility model and are described in more detail later in the following description.

Similarly, when applying the third layer 214 when using a composition with a lower or zero chalk content, it becomes possible and practically feasible to machine visual control of banded paper during printing operations, despite the presence of a certain amount of chalk in the additional material of the first and second layers 210 and 212 This feature contributes to these and other related benefits, which are summarized above when describing the essence of the utility model and are described in more detail later in the following. description.

You should also take into account that in the design of a solid strip, as described in reference to FIG. 10, form a wrapper that is capable of providing the desired characteristics of the ignition ability, including in many applications, indicators of the ignition ability equal to zero (0) or close to that.

DIFFICULTIES ARISING IN APPLICATION OF AQUEOUS, PREFERREDLY STARCH, SOLUTIONS AS ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

The concept of using aqueous solutions of starch as an additional material for producing a banded wrapper has its own advantages in terms of controlling the burning properties of smoking articles made using such a banded wrapper. However, applying aqueous starch solutions to the base web is difficult. For example, aqueous starch solutions tend to penetrate the irregular, rough, and porous surface of the base fabric 140, and tend to cause lateral shrinkage of the base fabric near strip-like regions. Regarding the latter circumstance, it was observed that when an aqueous solution of starch was applied to a base web with a size of 92 cm (36 inches) in the transverse dimension, the canvas may shrink from about 1.3 cm (0.50 inch) to about 1 when dried 9 cm (0.75 in.) Or more. This degree of shrinkage would interfere with maintaining proper register during printing and other processing operations.

Since shrinkage is localized in strip-like regions, the width of the base web in the transverse direction between the adjacent strip-like regions is greater than the width of the base web in the transverse direction in the strip-like regions. This disproportion in the transverse dimension of the width leads to the transverse undulation of the base web in such gaps between the strip-like regions.

Such waviness in the wrapper has a detrimental effect both on the subsequent processing of the wrapper and on the manufacture of smoking articles from the wrapper. For example, when a wraparound wrap is wound onto a spool, or cut longitudinally and wound onto bobbins, the waviness is smoothed out during winding, causing wrinkles in the wrap. When a pleated wrapper is used to make smoking articles, these creases in the wrapper are transferred to the smoking articles, resulting in visually unacceptable smoking articles.

ANTI-FREEZING AGENT

Surprisingly, applicants have discovered that the incorporation of an anti-wrinkle agent (preferably propylene glycol) into the aqueous starch solution used to make the banded wrap in a manner that meets the guidelines given here can reduce lateral shrinkage to technologically controlled levels, reduce severe wrinkling, and substantially eliminate problems the formation of folds, which initially appeared. It has been found that administration of an anti-wrinkle agent also provides additional benefits. For example, when an anti-wrinkle agent is introduced into an aqueous solution of starch, the anti-wrinkle agent acts as a plasticizer to make the starch more elastic during the drying process and in the finished paper. Cracking and peeling in strip-like areas are reduced. In addition, the presence of an anti-wrinkle agent also manifests itself in that it causes a longer stay of the starch solution on the surface of the base fabric with less penetration into this material, and thereby contributes to the formation of the film. It has been observed that shrinkage of the wrapper near stripe-shaped regions formed from an aqueous solution of starch, which includes an anti-wrinkle agent, ranged from about 1.6 mm to 3.2 mm (0.0625 inches to 0.125 inches) with a base web width of 92 cm ( 36 inches); it is a range that does not cause wrinkling or wrinkling. Further, it was found that the introduction of an anti-wrinkle agent in an aqueous solution of starch creates the possibility of using additional material for application to the base fabric in a single operation, in one pass or the like, provided that sufficient drying efficiency is ensured under such operating conditions. Moreover, the introduction of an anti-wrinkle agent in an aqueous solution of starch, applied in the form of patterns causing increased complexity compared to continuous strip-like regions, provides a more accurate maintenance of register when printing from one printing device to another printing device. In addition, by introducing an anti-wrinkle agent as presented herein, the shelf life of an aqueous starch solution is significantly increased.

The above advantages will be better understood by those skilled in the art from the following explanations. With reference to now FIG. 2, areas 126 of additive material determine and regulate the ignition ability and self-extinguishing characteristics of the smoking article. These areas 126 of additive material are applied to the base web 140 (see FIG. 2) of the wrapper 123 and then form a tobacco rod on conventional cigarette making equipment. The nominal permeability of the base web 140 may vary from about 25 to about 100 units according to the CORESTA standard. Currently, the preferred value of the nominal permeability of the base fabric varies in the range from about 33 to about 65 units according to the CORESTA standard, with the most preferred values of the nominal permeability of the base fabric from about 33 to about 60 units. The base web 140 has a longitudinal direction 142 extending along the length of the wrapper 123 and a transverse direction 144 extending across the wrapper 123 so as to be generally perpendicular or transverse to the longitudinal direction 142.

These areas 126 of additive material can be applied to the base web 140, preferably using printing technology. While one or more printing methods (selected from the group consisting of direct printing, offset printing, inkjet printing, gravure printing and the like) can be used to apply region 126, an intaglio printing method is preferably used. Intaglio printing provides ample opportunity to control the amount of applied material, the configuration of the applied material and the like, and is suitable for high-speed printing on the base web 140. For the purposes of the utility model, the term "high-speed" printing refers to printing processes where the base web 140 is advanced through printing process with a linear speed greater than about 1.5 m / s (300 ft / min). For cigarette manufacturing purposes, print speeds of the base web in excess of 2.3 m / s (450 ft / min) are preferred, and even speeds in excess of 2.5 m / s (500 ft / min) or more are even more preferred. In this regard, the amount of applied additive material, as well as the quality of the pattern of applied additive material, can vary significantly when a wrapper prepared using high speed printing processes is compared with a wrapper obtained by low speed printing processes. High-speed printing operations can provide both the desired performance (efficiency) of the ignition ability, and the desired performance (efficiency) of self-extinguishing.

It is noteworthy that it was found that the base web can be converted (printed) to introduce strips according to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 10, at a speed of 5 m / s (1000 feet per minute), providing an acceptable appearance of the paper (that is, without compromising quality) and without increasing the amount or unacceptable statistical frequency of wrinkles or wrinkles.

One purpose of the present description is the presentation of wrappers 123 (see FIG. 2), manufactured by a high-speed process on an industrial scale, which, when formed into a tobacco rod, exhibit incendiary properties not exceeding 25%, and self-extinguishing rates not more than 50%. Accordingly, important features of high-speed printing are here the amount of applied material and the characteristics of the obtained printed areas. While these indicators of burning ability and self-extinguishing are considered at the moment as adequate, for the resulting smoking article, the burning ability does not exceed 15%; and an incendiary rate of not more than about 10% is most preferred for the resulting smoking article. Lower self-extinguishing rates are also desirable. In this regard, a more preferred self-extinguishing rate is less than about 25%; while the most preferred self-extinguishing rate is less than about 10%.

The materials used for areas of the additive material may be important for the incendiary ability and self-extinguishing characteristics of a smoking article made using the wrapper discussed herein. In one embodiment, areas of the additive material may be printed with a starch solution that includes an anti-wrinkle agent. While an aqueous starch solution is currently preferred because the aqueous component is easily dried, the use of a non-aqueous starch solution is also within the meaning and scope of the utility model. In yet another embodiment, areas of the additive material may be printed with a solution comprising a mixture of particles of calcium carbonate (or chalk), starch, and an anti-wrinkle agent. As with a starch solution and an anti-wrinkle agent, a solution comprising a mixture of particles of calcium carbonate (or chalk), starch and an anti-wrinkle agent is preferably applied as an aqueous solution, but the non-aqueous solution also falls within the meaning and scope of the utility model.

The present utility model provides that a variety of anti-wrinkle agents are suitable to impart the desired characteristics described herein. In particular, the anti-wrinkle agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerol, propylene glycol and 1,2-propylene glycol. Glycerin is a preferred member of the group of anti-wrinkle agents. However, at the moment, the most preferred member of the group of anti-wrinkle agents is 1,2-propylene glycol.

Generally speaking, the present utility model provides that either (i) an anti-wrinkle agent or (ii) a combination of an anti-wrinkle agent and calcium carbonate will be added to the nominal starch aqueous solution in order to obtain a printing additive solution. For the nominal aqueous starch solution used in the present description, the starch may be from about 10% to about 20%, by weight, of the nominal solution. Preferably, the starch may comprise from about 14% to about 26% by weight of the nominal solution. Most preferably, starch may comprise about 16% by weight of the nominal solution.

An anti-wrinkle agent is preferably added to the nominal starch solution, wherein the weight of the anti-wrinkle agent ranges from about 10% to about 120% by weight of starch in the nominal starch solution. When the anti-wrinkle agent is 1,2-propylene glycol, the weight of the anti-wrinkle agent more preferably ranges from about 40% to about 120% by weight of starch in the nominal starch solution; even more preferably in the range of from about 40% to about 80%; and most preferably in the range of from about 55% to about 65%. Where the anti-wrinkle agent is glycerin, the weight of the anti-wrinkle agent more preferably ranges from about 10% to about 45% by weight of starch in the nominal starch solution; even more preferably in the range of from about 20% to about 40%; and most preferably in the range of from about 20% to about 30%. When glycerin is used as an anti-wrinkle agent in an amount of from about 40 to about 45%, glycerin has a detrimental effect on the drying quality of the additive solution.

EXAMPLES

The following illustrative, non-limiting examples are intended to provide further clarification. The results in Tables I and II compare the initial viscosity and stability over time of the print solution without added anti-wrinkle agent, with the initial viscosity and stability over time of the print solution with added anti-wrinkle agent. The observations recorded in Table I (for 1,2-propylene glycol) and Table II (for glycerol) show that the printing solution containing an anti-wrinkle agent, such as 1,2-propylene glycol or glycerin, is less viscous in the initial state and more stable in that it has a lower viscosity over a much longer period of time.

Table I The viscosity of a 24% starch solution + 80% CaCO ₃ ¹ The viscosity of a 24% starch solution + 80% CaCO ₃ + 100% 1,2-propylene glycol ² Day 1 65 MPa ^. sec (cp, centipoise) 50 MPa ^. sec Day 2 71 MPa ^. sec 51 MPa ^. sec Day3 77 MPa ^. sec 50 MPa ^. sec Day 4 88 ^MPa. sec - Day 6 - 52 MPa ^. sec Day 7 147 MPa ^. sec 58 MPa ^. sec Day 8 - 61 ^mPa. sec Day 9 - 66 MPa ^. sec Day 10 225 MPa ^. sec 70 MPa ^. sec Day 16 114 MPa ^. sec ¹ Calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) added to a solution of 24% dry starch in water; the ratio by weight of added CaCO ₃ to the dry starch present in the solution is 0.8: 1.0.
² Calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) added to a solution of 24% dry starch in water; the weight ratio of the added 1,2-propylene glycol to the added CaCO ₃ to the dry starch present in the solution is 1.0: 0.8: 1.0.

Table II The viscosity of a 20% starch solution + CaCO ₃ ¹ The viscosity of a 20% starch solution + CaCO ₃ + glycerin ² Day 1 51 MPa ^. sec (cp, centipoise) 41 MPa ^. sec Day 2 50 MPa ^. sec - Day 5 66 MPa ^. sec 52 MPa ^. sec Day 6 78 MPa ^. sec - Day 7 102 MPa ^. sec - Day 8 - 55 ^MPa. sec Day 12 - 62 MPa ^. sec Day 14 72 MPa ^. sec ¹ Calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) added to a solution of 20% dry starch in water; the ratio by weight of added CaCO ₃ to the dry starch present in the solution is 1: 1.
² Calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) added to a solution of 20% dry starch in water; the ratio by weight of the added glycerol to the added CaCO ₃ to the dry starch present in the solution is 1: 5: 5.

The above Tables demonstrate that the actual shelf life of a print solution using an anti-wrinkle agent, as measured by its viscosity, is substantially twice that of a print solution without an anti-wrinkle agent. The addition of an anti-wrinkle agent to the material applied to the areas with the additive material thereby improves the rheological characteristics of the printing solution used to form the regions from the additive material.

When the additive material is applied by printing methods, the viscosity of the applied material is of great importance. If the viscosity of the applied material increases over time, the additive material has a limited shelf life, or shelf life, after which the material loses its applicability. As Table I demonstrates, by adding an anti-wrinkle agent to the composition of the applied material, the initial viscosity of the additive material can be reduced by about 20%. Moreover, the shelf life, or viability during storage, of the additive material is increased at least twice or more compared to a material that does not have an anti-wrinkle agent.

The results shown in Tables III and IV show that the addition of an anti-wrinkle agent to the printing solution reduces self-extinguishing under free burning conditions without unacceptable harmful effects on the incendiary ability (i.e., while maintaining acceptable levels of incendiary ability). For the purposes of the information presented in Table III, batches of 40 cigarettes were tested to obtain an incendiary rate, while batches of 20 cigarettes were tested at each angular position to obtain a self-extinguishing index.

Table III Printing solution with 22% starch + 100% 1,2-propylene glycol ¹ + CaCO ₃
(SE represents self-extinguishing) Calcium carbonate CaCO ₃ ,% Width/
mm Ignition ability /% Self-propelling (0є) Self-extinguishing (45є) Self-extinguishing (90є) Self-extinguishing (medium) 7 0 40 85 one hundred 75 7 0 35 90 one hundred 75 40 6 0 75 one hundred one hundred 92 6 5 0 60 one hundred 53 7 0 10 80 one hundred 63 60 7 0 10 75 95 60 6 5 25 85 one hundred 70 6 10 5 40 fifty 32

7 7.5 5 60 90 51 80 7 5 0 65 85 fifty 6 25 0 45 fifty 32 ¹ 1,2-Propylene glycol added to a solution of 22% dry starch in water; 1,2-propylene glycol added to a starch solution with a ratio of 1,2-propylene glycol to dry starch of 1.0: 1.0; and CaCO ₃ added to the starch solution in an amount indicated in weight percent, measured relative to the weight of the dry starch used in the solution.

From Table III, certain conclusions can be drawn. For example, the ignition ability was kept well below 25% of the target for strips 7 mm wide. In addition, the burning ability was kept well below 25% of the target when the weight of calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) was less than 80% by weight of starch. Further, the average self-extinguishing rates were less than or equal to 70%, when the weight of CaCO ₃ was more than 40% of the weight of starch; and self-extinguishing at an angle of inclination of 0 ° was less than or equal to 25, when the weight of CaCO ₃ was more than 40% of the weight of starch.

For the purposes of the information presented in Table IV, smaller groups of cigarettes were tested, namely groups of five. The cigarettes tested to obtain the results of Table IV were prepared with two strips applied manually with a brush using a solution of additive material, as indicated in Table IV.

Table IV Solution Incendiary ability Self-extinguishing (at an angle of 0є) 20% starch solution 0 out of 5 3 out of 5 20% starch solution + glycerin ¹ 0 out of 5 1 out of 5 The weight ratio of glycerol to dry starch = 1: 5 ¹ Glycerin added to a solution of 20% dry starch in water; the ratio by weight of added glycerol to the dry starch present in the solution is 1: 5.

For both solutions containing an anti-wrinkle agent, all cigarettes in the ignition ability test went out spontaneously before the carbonization zone reached the filter boundary. However, in a self-extinguishing test (when tilted at an angle of 0 °) for a solution without an anti-wrinkle agent, 60% of the cigarettes extinguished spontaneously until the filter boundary was reached, while for a solution containing an anti-wrinkle agent, only 20% of the cigarettes extinguished before reaching the filter boundary. Thus, self-extinguishing remains at a level below the generally accepted target value of 25%. The incendiary rate was excellent, with a value of 0% achieved, very much less than the frequently used target values of 10%, 15%, or 25%. Thus, the addition or introduction of an anti-wrinkle agent in the area of the additive material reduces self-extinguishing under free burning conditions (self-extinguishing) without adversely affecting the incendiary ability (incendiary ability).

The introduction of an anti-wrinkle agent in the additive material also improves the characteristics of the resulting banded wrap. More specifically, it has been found that an anti-wrinkle agent increases the flexibility of the additive material when it is dried on a wrapper (that is, it acts as a plasticizer). As a result, strips of additive material are less likely to separate from the base fabric during processing and use than strips on a wrapper where an anti-wrinkle agent was not used in the composition. Further, as noted above, the introduction of an anti-wrinkle agent in the additive material leads to an improvement in the self-extinguishing agent of a smoking article made of a wrapper having strips of additive material that includes an anti-wrinkle agent - but without a deterioration in the incendiary rate.

Although the action of an anti-wrinkle agent in a starch solution is not yet fully understood, it appears that the anti-wrinkle agent also functions as a plasticizer in a starch solution. A starch solution without an anti-wrinkle agent, also capable of acting as a plasticizer, tends to seep into the subsurface layer of the paper structure. Moreover, in the absence of an anti-wrinkle agent, the starch solution tends to cause shrinkage or a reduction in size when dried. This shrinkage and / or this contraction causes the same shrinkage or contraction of the underlying web, that is, the area under the strip-like area. As an example, observations have shown that a paper web with a width of 92 cm (36 inches) can shrink up to values from 1.3 cm to 1.9 cm (0.5 inches to about 0.75 inches) in a strip-like region ; that is, at a level of from about 1% to about 2%. Among other things, such shrinkage can be difficult in terms of maintaining accurate registering between multiple printers when multi-pass printing is used.

Since the underlying web between the strip-like regions does not shrink, the section between the strip-like regions becomes wavy, where the waves continue in the longitudinal direction of the underlying canvas, and wave-like changes from these waves occur across the canvas, or in the transverse direction of the underlying canvas. After cutting the underlying fabric in the longitudinal direction into parts corresponding in size to the manufactured cigarettes, each of these longitudinal parts of the paper web is wound tightly onto a corresponding reel. Accordingly, the above-described undulation sometimes appears in folds in areas not containing stripes, where the folds of paper themselves correct the reduction in width due to shrinkage in the strip-like areas. Such folds in the wrapper are generally unacceptable for tobacco rod production. The effect of such shrinkage can be easily seen in FIG. 60A, 60V, 60C. These figures are images obtained using an optical microscope of the wrinkled area between the printed strip-like areas, where a single application of the film-forming material is 5.5X. The film-forming material used contained 22% starch and 40% chalk, or calcium carbonate.

Thus, it appears that the shrinkage of the strip-like regions is the cause of wrinkling in the uncoated strips, or in the unsealed wrapper zone. Again, the mechanisms are not yet fully understood, but the addition of an anti-wrinkle agent to the starch solution seems to make the printed layer or strip-like region more flexible. This flexibility may be due to the fact that the printed starch layer is more resilient. This flexibility may also be due to the fact that the printed layer has a reduced ability to absorb into the structure of the paper, so that the printed layer is more located on the surface of the paper web. Regardless of whether one of these mechanisms works, a combination of these mechanisms, or any other mechanism appears, observations show that when the wrapper is bent, the increased elasticity of the layer or strip-like region reduces the likelihood that the layer or strip-like the area will be separated from the wrapper. Moreover, it seems that the elasticity of the layer or strip-like region allows the layer or strip-like region to correspond in size to the underlying paper when the applied solution dries; thereby shrinkage in the strip-like region is reduced, and at the same time, wrinkling and / or creasing between the strip-like regions is also reduced. Accordingly, the incorporation of an anti-wrinkle agent into the starch solution counteracts the wrinkling described above.

The effect of adding an anti-wrinkle agent to the film-forming material can be easily seen in FIG. 60D, 60E, 60F, 60G, 60H, 60I, which are optical microscope photographs of a portion between printed strip-like regions, under the same conditions as for FIG. 60A-60C. in FIG. 60D-60F used glycerol as an anti-wrinkle agent. The film-forming material was applied in an amount of 5.5X and contained 22% starch, 40% chalk and 20% glycerol. in FIG. 60G-60I 1,2-propylene glycol was used as an anti-wrinkle agent. In these figures, the film-forming material was applied in an amount of 5X and contained 22% starch, 40% chalk and 100% propylene glycol. FIG. 60 shows the unexpected effect on striped paper achieved by the addition of an anti-wrinkle agent to the film-forming material.

An additional advantage of the anti-wrinkle agent provided herein relates to the characteristics of the solution in terms of film formation. More specifically, it appears that the incorporation of an anti-wrinkle agent into the additive material improves the film formation characteristics of the additive material with respect to the surface of the base web on which the additive material is applied. This improved film forming property appears to improve the incendiary rate of the strip-like wrappers formed from the additive material. Moreover, the film-forming characteristic enhances the desired sealing effect of the layer sufficiently to provide the possibility of reducing the number of multipass application acts that might be required in the case of solutions not containing an anti-wrinkle agent. In the presence of an anti-wrinkle agent, a single-pass operation may be possible in combination with proper effective drying.

Some additional benefits were observed when 1,2-propylene glycol was used as an anti-wrinkle agent. More specifically, 1,2-propylene glycol can be effectively applied, where the ratio of the weight of 1,2-propylene glycol to the weight of starch in the solution is about 100%. On the contrary, glycerin can be effectively used when the ratio of the weight of glycerol to the weight of starch in the solution is less than 40%, since in this case the drying time of the solution containing starch and starch plasticizer becomes unacceptably long. This difference in drying time may be due to the difference between the boiling point of glycerol (290 ° C) and the boiling point of 1,2-propylene glycol (187.3 ° C); the difference is about 100 degrees Celsius. For 1,2-propylene glycol, the boiling point is closer to the boiling point of an aqueous solution than the boiling point of glycerol.

When an anti-wrinkling agent is added to the starch solution, the permeability of the strip-like region is improved, that is, the permeability is more uniform and less than the permeability of the strip in which the plasticizer is not used. This phenomenon is significant because it provides the ability to apply or print the required amount of starch solution in a single printing stage. Skilled artisans will appreciate that in the past, multiple printing steps were typically required to provide the required permeability in strip-like areas. Of course, it may still be desirable, for other reasons, to continue using multilayer printing operations.

CALCIUM CARBONATE

Calcium carbonate, or chalk, is preferably added to the nominal starch solution in addition to an anti-wrinkle agent, wherein the weight of the chalk can vary from 0 to about 100% by weight of starch in the nominal solution; preferably in the range of from about 40% to about 100%; and most preferably in the range of from about 40% to about 80%, with a preferred target level of about 60%. Chalk can be added to the nominal starch solution to adjust the reflectivity of the resulting additive material so that it is comparable to the reflectivity of the uncoated base fabric. With this reflectivity, the strip-like regions formed from the additive material are less visible to the casual observer.

The CaCO ₃ starch ratio can also be a significant factor in determining the burning ability of a self-extinguishing rate of a smoking article made from a wrapper according to a utility model when production is performed using high-speed printing. The "CaCO ₃ starch" ratio is defined as the ratio, by weight, of calcium carbonate to starch for the region of the additive material. More specifically, a CaCO ₃ -starch ratio of less than about 0.8 is preferred to obtain the desired incendiary rate along with an improved self-extinguishing rate (at 0 ° angle) of less than about 25%. Calcium carbonate (CaCO ₃ ) is included according to an embodiment described with reference to FIG. 10 to increase self-extinguishing rate, along with the other considerations set forth herein.

From the above description and the annexed drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a method for manufacturing a banded wrap for smoking articles has been described. In this method, the strip-like regions 126 (see FIG. 2) of the additive material are designated as places located at a certain distance from each other on the same surface of the base web 123. The distance between these strip-like regions 126 can be chosen to be substantially larger than the width of such strip-like regions 126 in the longitudinal direction 142 of the base web 140. The width of the strip-like regions 126 can be selected varying in the range from about 5 mm to about 10 mm (millimeters); and the gap between these strip-like regions 126 (which gap can be measured as the distance from the rear edge of one strip-like region to the front edge of the next adjacent strip-like region) can vary from about 12 mm to about 40 mm.

PREFERRED STARCH COMPOSITIONS AND PREPARATION SUCH

The strip-like regions according to the utility model preferably include an aqueous solution containing starch, chalk, or CaCO ₃ , and an anti-wrinkle agent. While many types of starch are contemplated, tapioca starch is currently preferred for the starch component of layers 210, 212, 214 (FIG. 10). Suitable starch commercially available is FLO-MAX8, manufactured by National Starch & Chemical Co.

Unexpectedly, it was found that certain characteristics of the starch material lead to predetermined patterns that give very low rates of Ignition ability when patterned base paper is formed in smoking articles. Even more unexpected was the understanding that, within the standard specifications for some well-known starch materials, variations in the properties of materials from batch to batch could affect the incendiary ability of the resulting smoking articles. By way of example, specifications for oxidized tapioca starch marketed by National Starch & Chemical Co. like FLO-MAX8, shows a pH of 1% solution, ranging from 4.5 to 6.5, with particles having molecular weights in excess of 10,000. It was unexpectedly discovered that when a predetermined pattern was applied to the base fabric using a batch of FLO-MAX8 starch having a pH in the range of about 6 to about 6.5, the incendiary rate was much better than other batches of FLO-MAX8, for which the pH was less than about 6, but all still within the specifications of the manufacturer.

A variety of comparisons and compromise solutions are required in order to make the choice of starch parameters for use when applying films to the wrapper. For example, while starch with a high molecular weight can lead to an effective reduction in permeability, such high molecular weight starches should be used in low concentrations to form a solution having a very high water content. But films with a high water content are much more difficult to dry effectively on a porous wrapper. Moreover, it was found that the surface tension of the starch solution affects the retention of small air bubbles; low surface tension allows small bubbles to remain in solution, while high surface tension causes the bubbles to coalesce and stand out from the solution, resulting in a more uniform and dense material for application to the wrapper.

Although not fully understood, the preferred pH range of oxidized starch appears to reflect a lesser, or less complete, oxidation of the polymer chains of starch, resulting in longer polymer chains than more acidic (i.e., lower pH) starches.

Further, longer polymer chains give a solution having a higher viscosity. The higher viscosity of the starch solution provides better control over the application to the wrapper during printing.

Based on this understanding of the circumstances, it was found that a noticeable improvement in the parameters of the burning ability of the patterned wrapper is achievable for starch solutions with specific and improved characteristics. These characteristics for an aqueous solution containing oxidized starch include a pH in the range of about 6 to about 6.5; a surface tension of at least about 6.5 × 10 ⁻² N / m (65 dyne / centimeter); viscosity at room temperature no more than about 50 MPa ^. sec (50 centipoise); and particle size distribution in the range from about 4 microns (microns) to about 40 microns for dry particles, with about 90% also in the range from about 10 microns to about 100 microns in the wet state. Further, the particles preferably have such a molecular weight that the solution can have starch concentrations in the range of from about 14% to about 24%. Preferably, the starch comprises oxidized tapioca starch.

Aqueous starch solutions used for application to a base web or wrapper are typically prepared by preparing a water-starch mixture by first mixing the desired weight amount of dry starch powder with the desired weight amount of water at room temperature (i.e., at about 15 ° C. to about 25 ° C), to obtain a water-starch mixture having a pre-selected concentration. For example, to obtain a water-starch solution with a pre-selected concentration of 20%, 20 parts by weight of starch are mixed with 80 parts by weight of water. The aqueous starch solution is then heated to an elevated temperature close to the boiling point, in the range of from about 90 ° C to about 95 ° C; that is, below the boiling point. The aqueous starch solution is maintained at elevated temperature for a period of time from about 20 to about 30 minutes for thermal soaking. Then the aqueous starch solution is cooled to room temperature. This cooling stage can proceed passively as a result of natural heat exchange processes; or the cooling stage can be active (or forced), for example, by immersion in a cooling bath and using a traditional mechanical cooling system. Throughout the mixing step, the heating step, the thermal soaking step and the cooling step, the water-starch mixture is mixed. Mixing may be continuous or substantially continuous. If additional components such as calcium carbonate are to be added to the aqueous starch solution, these components should be added after the aqueous starch solution has cooled to room temperature after the thermal soaking step.

Aqueous starch solutions having the above characteristics and prepared as described above can be applied to a base web using any of a variety of printing technologies, including, as an example and without limitation, a group consisting of gravure printing, offset printing, inkjet printing, and spraying and pad printing. Other printing methods may also be suitable and are intended to be within the scope of the present description. However, it is preferable to apply gravure printing to apply the starch solution to the base web to obtain a patterned wrapper.

It was unexpectedly discovered that the ratio of CaCO ₃ / starch is a significant factor in determining the incendiary ability and self-extinguishing of a smoking article made from a wrapper according to a utility model obtained using high-speed printing. The CaCO ₃ / starch ratio is defined as the ratio, by weight, of calcium carbonate to starch for region 126 of the additive material, that is, for both layers. More specifically, a CaCO ₃ / starch ratio of at least about 35% is preferable to obtain ignition ability and self-extinguishing (angle 0 °) less than about 25%. An even more preferable CaCO ₃ / starch ratio is at least about 45% to obtain ignition ability and self-extinguishing (angle 0є) less than about 20%.

If desired, the layer 150 printed on the base web 140 (see FIG. 3) may be a starch layer, and layer 152 may be a layer comprising a mixture of starch and calcium carbonate. However, according to the currently preferred arrangement, a mixture of starch and calcium carbonate is placed in the first layer 150 and only starch is applied to another layer 152.

It has been observed that (i) the reflectivity in the optical range of the base web 140 and (ii) the reflectivity in the optical range of a mixture of starch and calcium carbonate are quite similar. In fact, these two reflectance values are close enough to impede the operation of optical monitoring equipment. On the other hand, (i) reflectivity in the optical range of the base web 40 and (ii) reflectivity in the optical range of the starch layer were observed to be substantially different.

The various reflectivity characteristics of the layers 150, 152 are mainly used to improve the optical control characteristics of the wrapper according to the utility model. When a starch layer is deposited on the upper surface of a layer containing starch and calcium carbonate, the optical control of the wrapper is significantly simplified. More specifically, when the base web 140 is advanced from the feed spool through the intaglio printing machine to the take-up spool, the web 140 can also pass through a control device. In the control device, the light source is focused on the moving web 140. A light beam emanating from the light source is reflected from the surface of the moving base web 140 so that the reflected light enters the sensor. When each region 126 of the additive material is moved through the control device, region 126 interrupts the light beam and changes the amount of light reflected to the sensor. Since the reflectivity of the starch layer differs from the reflectivity of the base fabric 140, the sensor can be designed to detect the presence or absence of the area 126. Together with the input data related to the speed of movement of the base fabric through the control device, a more complex sensor can even determine the width areas 126 in the longitudinal direction of the base web 140, as well as longitudinal gaps between adjacent areas, for quality control and production stability. Regarding the control of stripe regions, please also see US Pat. Nos. 5,966,218 and 6,198,337, incorporated herein by reference.

Surprisingly, when calcium carbonate levels increase in the strip-like regions 126 subjected to optical monitoring or in machine vision systems, the readings of these systems are observed to become less reliable. Presumably, this reduced reliability is due to the increased reflectivity of the surface of the strip-like regions 126. This increased reflectivity suppresses or “blinds” the control systems, which may be due to the reflectivity of the strip-like regions 126 with high carbonate levels calcium is comparable to the reflectivity of the base fabric itself and can be essentially equivalent to that. It seems that this reflectivity equivalence is achieved when the level of calcium carbonate in the surface zone of the strip-like regions 126 becomes greater than about 80% of the level of starch in the surface zone of the strip-like regions 126.

This problem of reflectivity equivalence can be reduced by creating a structure of strip-like regions 126, in which the surface zone has a reflectivity that differs significantly from the reflectivity of the base web so that control systems stably identify the variation in reflectance to determine the parameters relating to the strip-like regions 126, in including, as an example, the presence of a change in reflectivity (beginning or end of a strip-like region and 126), no change in reflectivity (skipping of the strip-like region 126, or improper arrangement of the strip-like region 126), the length of the strip-like region 126 in the longitudinal direction or the gap between the strip-like regions 126 (for example, how long a particular reflectivity lasts for a detected speed or speed of movement base web through a control device). One way to establish the desired structure for the stripe-shaped regions 126 is to deposit a layer with a high content of calcium carbonate at a position farther from the control system than a layer containing essentially one starch. In other words, by applying a starch layer over a layer containing calcium carbonate, the performance of the optical control systems will not be impaired, but will remain high.

This arrangement of layers in the strip-like region 126 gives the wrapper yet another unexpected and highly favorable property. When the first layer of the strip-like region 126 applied to the base fabric contains both calcium carbonate and starch, the presence of the strip-like region 126 is less noticeable when viewed or closely examined from the side of the base fabric, the opposite side to which the strip-like region 126 is applied, i.e., side, the opposite side, where machine vision operates. In fact, when the level of calcium carbonate reaches high values, which are the subject of a utility model, the presence or presence of the stripe-shaped region 126 becomes less noticeable to the consumer, and in fact can become essentially invisible to the simple user.

This visual masking is important, as consumers of smoking products get used to products in which the wrapper has a uniform, uniform appearance. The preferred arrangement of layers 150, 152 (see FIG. 3) provides an additional significant advantage to a smoking article made using a wrapper according to a utility model.

Similarly, many types of calcium carbonate particles are considered to fall within the meaning and scope of the utility model. However, currently suitable commercially available calcium carbonate is represented by calcium carbonate, which is manufactured by Solvay Chemicals, Inc., as SOCAL 31. SOCAL 31 is an ultrafine, precipitated form of calcium carbonate having an average particle size of about 70 nm (nanometers). It has been observed that larger particles of calcium carbonate do not work just as well in this application, compared to the ultrafine precipitated form of calcium carbonate, due, at least in part, to the tendency of larger particles to precipitate from solution faster, and in view of at least partially , the need for increased amounts to impart the advantageous characteristics discussed here.

The materials used for areas of the additive material may be important for the incendiary ability and self-extinguishing of a smoking article made using the wrapper discussed here. In one embodiment, areas of the additive material may be printed with a starch solution that includes an anti-wrinkle agent. While an aqueous starch solution is currently preferred because the aqueous component dries easily, the use of a non-aqueous starch solution also falls within the meaning and scope of the utility model. In yet another embodiment, areas of the additive material may be printed with a solution comprising a mixture of particles of calcium carbonate (or chalk), starch, and an anti-wrinkle agent. As with a solution of starch and an anti-wrinkle agent, a solution comprising a mixture of particles of calcium carbonate (or chalk), starch and an anti-wrinkle agent is preferably applied as an aqueous solution, but the non-aqueous solution also falls within the meaning and scope of the utility model.

Generally speaking, the present utility model provides that either (i) an anti-wrinkle agent or (ii) a combination of an anti-wrinkle agent and calcium carbonate will be added to the nominal starch aqueous solution in order to obtain a printing additive solution.

As discussed in more detail above, the introduction of an anti-wrinkle agent in a starch solution allows the application of an aqueous starch solution in a single printing step or layer on a underlying paper web. While an anti-wrinkle agent can also be used in a multi-layer structure for a strip-like region in multiple printing steps or passages, the advantages of an anti-wrinkle agent are due to the use of such in the first layer deposited on the base web.

From the discussion above, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous different patterns of strip-like regions of the wrapper are within the meaning and scope of the utility model. For example, a pattern has been described including a plurality of solid strips arranged in the transverse direction (see FIG. 2). The continuous stripes can be extending in the transverse direction, extending 220 in the longitudinal direction (see FIG. 11) or spiral 222 (see FIG. 12). For the purposes of the utility model, a continuous layout description means that areas of the additive material are applied in a single step.

The above discussion also clarifies that areas of the additive material, if desired, can be applied in two or more consecutive steps or applications. Intaglio printing methods, as well as other printing methods, are entirely suitable for such successive steps or multiple applications.

IMPROVED SELF-EXTINGUISHING INDICATOR WHILE STORING THE INDIVIDUAL ABILITY INDICATOR

As noted above, it is desirable to achieve an incendiary rate that meets and exceeds government requirements. This is achievable with such a continuous strip-like configuration, which is described With reference to FIG. 10. Moreover, as noted earlier, the desired rate of incendiary ability is often achieved at the expense of the self-extinguishing rate of the smoking article. In other words, while the incendiary rate can meet or exceed government requirements, this incendiary rate is typically associated with a smoking product that will spontaneously go out when in the hands of a smoker, i.e. self-extinguishing is 100%. Because smokers generally prefer not to re-ignite a smoking article, improving the self-extinguishing rate while maintaining the burning ability is a highly desirable feature for improved wrappers. Applicants have identified wraparound strip layouts that provide such an improved self-extinguishing rate while maintaining an incendiary rate. For example, the introduction of a certain amount of chalk in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 10, helps to improve self-extinguishing rate, among other parameters.

In addition to using chalk, or instead of chalk, to improve the self-extinguishing rate, certain strip-like configurations and patterns disclosed herein are useful for forming smoking articles having both an improved self-extinguishing rate and a desired rate of incendiary. For example, a slit strip-like configuration as shown in FIG. 5 and others, it is better able to maintain decay during free burning, while, being located next to the substrate, it does not support decay.

With reference to Table V, the wrapper A includes a slit strip-like arrangement having three regions with a width of about 2 mm each, with a total width of 6 mm for a printed strip-like region with dosages of the additive material in different regions ranging from about 3.5X to about 5, 5X. The dosage of the additive at a level of 5.5X corresponds to amounts from about 8 g / m ² to about 9 g / m ^{2 of the} additional material based on dry weight, where the wrapper has a nominal base weight of about 26.5 g / m ² . Lower dosages of the additive would be assumed to provide proportionally adjustable values for the weight of the additive, measured on a dry weight basis. The widths of the strip-like regions are typically measured in the longitudinal direction and have a phase length of 27 mm (i.e., the gap between the front edge of one strip-like region and the front edge of an adjacent or subsequent strip-like region).

Table v Wrapper Stripe Configuration Total bandwidth Permeability of the base web A 2-2-2 6 mm 33 CORESTA units AT 2.5-2-2.5 7 mm 33 CORESTA units

FROM 2.5-2-2.5 7 mm 60 CORESTA units D 3-2-3 8 mm 60 CORESTA units

In Table V, the “strip-like region configuration” is an abbreviated description of the width of the strip parts when viewed in the direction in which the charring zone moves along a burning tobacco rod. So, the configuration of 2.5-2-2.5 (see FIG. 5) of the strip-like region 126 means that the first part, or zone 202 (see FIG. 6) of the entire strip-like region as a whole is 2.5 mm, the second part or the region 203 of the entire strip-like region as a whole is 2 mm (and may simply be a gap), and the third part, or region 204 of the entire strip-like region as a whole is 2.5 mm. Here, the first part 202 would be the first to encounter an approaching carbonization zone of a burning tobacco rod, then the moving carbonization zone would reach the second part 203, and the progressive carbonization zone would get to the third part 204 last.

Table VI
Wrapper Options A Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Width 2 mm 2 mm 2 mm Additive Layers one one one Dosage of additive per layer 5x 3,5-4x 5x General additive material 5x 3,5-4X 5x

Table VII
Wrapper Options B Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Width 2.5 mm 2 mm 2.5 mm Additive Layers one one one Dosage of additive per layer 5x 3,5-4x 5x General additive material 5x 3,5-4x 5x

Table VIII
C wrapper options Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Width 2.5 mm 2 mm 2.5 mm Additive Layers one one one Dosage of additive per layer 5x 3,5-4x 5x General additive material 5x 3,5-4x 5x

Table IX
D wrapper options Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Width 3 mm 2 mm 3 mm Additive Layers one one one Dosage of additive per layer 5x 3,5-4x 5x General additive material 5x 3,5-4x 5x

Tables VI-IX show that the multi-zone strip-like region 126 (see FIG. 5) can be arranged in a single pass printing operation with the application dosage values indicated in these tables. In each of the AD wrappers, the additive material preferably included an aqueous solution containing starch, chalk, or calcium carbonate, and 1,2-propylene glycol. At present, a mixture is preferred for which the aqueous solution contains starch, chalk and 1,2-propylene glycol in a weight ratio of about 100 (for starch) to an amount of from about 40 to about 80 (for chalk) and to an amount of about 100 (for 1 , 2-propylene glycol), in weight percent. The amount of starch itself in the aqueous solution can vary from about 20% to about 24%.

When the aqueous solution is applied to the base web and dried, some changes may occur in the relative proportions of the components of the additive material. For example, observations show that when 1,2-propylene glycol is used as an anti-wrinkle agent, from about 50% to about 60% of the propylene glycol added to the solution remains in the additive material after it is dried on a paper web. Some weight loss can also occur during drying and with other anti-wrinkle agents. However, such weight loss during the drying process was not observed for starch and calcium carbonate as components of the additive material.

The additive material region 126 may be substantially continuous across the paper web as shown (see FIG. 2), or may have one or more longitudinally extending spaces so as to form a C-shaped region when forming a wrapper for the tobacco rod ( see FIG. 7), or may have several arc-shaped parts 127 '(see FIG. 8), generally symmetrically around the tobacco rod, when viewed in cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 134 of the tobacco rod 122.

In addition, the region 126 of additional material on the wrapper 123 can be divided into two or more essentially annular parts (see FIG. 5), which are spaced apart along the axis 142 by a distance “w” that typically does not exceed the width of the rings 126 , if measured in a direction substantially parallel to the axis 134 of the tobacco rod 122. Such a gap as a characteristic feature creates a “gap” in the strip-like structure.

It is also within the competence of the utility model that the region 126 of the wrapper 123 may include a plurality of zones 127 (see FIG. 8) arranged circumferentially around the tobacco rod 122, wherein the zones 127 'in the adjacent region 126 are offset in a circumferential direction relative to the zones of another adjacent areas 126. In addition, areas 127, 127 'may be arranged according to a predetermined pattern, such as that presented in US Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 924,666, incorporated herein by reference.

Areas of the additive material are preferably applied as a single layer 210 (see FIG. 9). It should be noted that the representation of the cross section of the base web in FIG. 9 is a schematic. As discussed above, the real cross section of the base web is a cut through the countless fibers that form the base web. In the case of a cigarette wrapper, this thickness may be of the order of about 30 microns (i.e., 30 x 10 ^-6 meters, or 30 microns). The actual thickness of the additive material is ≤2 μm, and the additive material tends to seep and take the form of a surface formed by the fibers of the base fabric. As a result, the material placed in areas of the additive material can be schematically shown in the form of rectangles (as in FIGS. 3, 6 and 9), but in reality it is practically invisible to the naked eye. For this purpose, it should be borne in mind that if multiple layers are used to form areas of additional material, it is almost impossible to distinguish individual layers in the resulting structure. This permission for individual or individual layers is even more complicated when applying aqueous solutions, since subsequent layers tend to rewet the previous layer and create the possibility of deposition of components such as chalk through the material of the previous layer.

The dosage amount for applying the material in a preferred single layer (see FIG. 9) may vary from about 4X to about 6X. The designation “X” used for these purposes has been described above. Where the base web has a CORESTA rating of about 33, the currently preferred application dosage of about 5X seems appropriate. Where the basecoat has a CORESTA rating of about 60, the currently preferred application dosage of about 5.5X seems adequate.

Although areas of the additive material are preferably applied in a single-pass application, or in a layer, the present description also provides for the application of the additive material in multiple application steps or layers (see FIG. 10). In this embodiment, after applying the first layer 210 to the surface of the base web 123 on the first gravure printing and drying apparatus, a second layer 212 (see FIG. 10) of the additional material can be applied to the wrapper, for example, on the second gravure printing apparatus. If desired, a third or subsequent layer 214 may be applied to the optional gravure printing apparatus. The second layer 212 may be positioned to align with the first layer 210 and substantially have the same extent. Alternatively, the second layer 212 may cover only one or more parts of the first layer 210. The relative dosage of the application of the layers does not have to be the same, and preferably varies. For example, one layer may have a thickness of at least about 1.5-3 times that of the other layer.

For example, the smoking article 120 (see FIG. 13) may include one or more strip-like regions 250 that are axially spaced relative to each other along the axis of the smoking article 120. Each strip-like region 250 may include additional material applied so that between the end portions 254 is strip-like area 250 there is at least one longitudinally extending gap 252. An embodiment in FIG. 13 shows a single gap 252 in each of the strip-like regions 250; however, two or more gaps 252 may be provided along the circumference of the smoking article 120. Where more than one gap 252 is provided, the gaps are preferably substantially parallel to one another, and substantially equally spaced apart relative to each other along the circumference of the smoker articles 120. An embodiment of a smoking article having a pair of substantially diametrically opposed areas of additive material can be seen in FIG. 15. As shown, the extent of the regions 250, 250 ′ of the additive material in the circumferential direction can be substantially the same as the circumference of the gaps, or gaps, 252 between these regions 250, 250 ′ of the additive material.

In the case of the above arrangement, when the smoking article 120 is in a free-burning state (see FIG. 15), areas 250, 250 ′ of the additive material block air access to the burning zone of the carbonization of the tobacco rod 122 due to their reduced permeability. On the other hand, when the smoking article is held substantially horizontal, the lower gap 252 of the wrapper 123 freely passes air to enter laterally into the tobacco rod 122 to maintain combustion in the charring zone. A completely different situation occurs when the smoking article 120 is placed on the substrate 260 (see FIG. 14). Under these conditions, the substrate 260 blocks the air from bottom to top access to the lower part, or the lower gap 252 of the tobacco rod 122. The areas 250, 250 'of the additive material and the substrate 260 act together to form sections 258, 259 with a much smaller area through which air can be pulled through the base web 140 of the wrapper. More specifically, the vertical section 258 between the lower part of the region 250 and the substrate 260 and the vertical section 258 between the lower part of the region 250 ′ and the substrate 260 cause a significant reduction in the area through which air can pass to reach the charring of the carbonization in the tobacco rod 122. As a result of consumption of oxygen in the air, the smoldering carbonization zone in the smoking article 120 spontaneously attenuates when the combustion line reaches opposite areas of the additive material arranged as shown in FIG. 14. The condition for a substantial reduction in the area for access of combustion-supporting air in the carbonization zone also occurs with the rotatable positions of the tobacco rod 122 between the same position illustrated in FIG. 14, and other positions of the smoking article if it is rotated about its longitudinal axis.

However, when the smoking article 120 is placed on the substrate 260 so that one of the regions 250, 250 ′ of the additive material is in contact with the substrate 260, the regions of the additive material can still substantially limit the area through which air can flow past them and through the base web 140, and there is a lesser degree of material interaction between the substrate 260 and the areas of additional material to reduce this area, compared with what happens in the air-permeable region 262 retraction. For the purposes of the present description, “retraction region 262” is a region on the tobacco rod 122 that can be used to provide combustion attenuation in the carbonization zone when placed on the substrate 260.

In the above example, a decrease in the rate of ignition ability is also associated with a decrease in the rate of self-extinguishing, and improves the quality of free burning of the smoking article 120 having a wrapper with areas of additional material, as such in FIG. 13. Qualified specialists in this field of technology should also take into account that the improvement of self-extinguishing according to FIG. 15 takes place when the smoking article is in a horizontal position (i.e., angle 0є). Similar improvements in self-extinguishing are also observed with other provisions for evaluating self-extinguishing with angles of 45 ° and 90 °. In a situation where the smoking article 120 is located on the substrate 260 in one of three specific orientations, the orientations being separated (offset) by an angle of 45 ° about the axis of the smoking article, the characteristics of self-extinguishing and the desired burning ability are also achieved. Naturally, the discussion is given in this manner for the sake of brevity. It will be readily understood that the arrangement as described herein can extinguish a smoking article regardless of which side is facing substrate 260, and without the need for a film-forming compound to be applied to the paper so that the desired free-burning quality of the smoking article is lost, or so that carbon monoxide levels in the mainstream smoke rise. This can be understood if it is recognized that the opposite regions of the film-forming compound need not be exactly 90 ° relative to the side that contacts the substrate 260. These areas may be concentrated in a place closer to or further from the side in contact with the substrate 260, for example, at an angle of about 60 ° and 120 ° relative to the side in contact with the substrate 260.

Additionally, for a particular selected pattern, the ability to extinguish a smoking article may depend more on the creation of a minimum length of additional material (e.g., a film-forming compound) than on the specific weight of the film-forming compound per unit area in longitudinally extending places. For example, the length of the rectangular region can be no less than about 5.5 mm for the particular arrangement used, the base web and the film-forming compound. The amount of film-forming compound used can be increased to improve the rate of ignition ability, usually without compromising on the quality of free combustion and the rate of self-extinguishing, and, if desired, a burning accelerator can be applied to the paper to maintain even large levels of the amount of additive material.

Previously, it was assumed that the ratio of the permeability values 3: 1 between the base fabric and areas of the additive material was insufficient for attenuation of the smoking article, since there is insufficient reduction in the permeability of the paper in the longitudinal position of the retraction region. However, such a ratio of the permeability values within the circumference of the smoking article may be sufficient to attenuate the smoking article when there is an underlying substrate 260, and when additional material is placed on the sides of the smoking article 120 that are not in contact with the substrate 260.

Another embodiment of the smoking article, which uses the interaction between the longitudinal gaps separating the opposite areas of the additive material and the substrate, is shown in FIG. 16. Here, a series of longitudinally extending retracting regions is distributed along the axis 134 of the smoking article 120. Each pair of regions of additive material in the retracting region may be referred to as zones to facilitate mention thereof.

With reference to FIG. 17, paper wrapper 123 further includes pairs of additive material zones at locations separated from each other along tobacco rod 122 of FIG. 16 (such as the opposite pair of zones 270d, 272d).

Each pair of rectangular zones (for example, 270a and 272a — the latter is not visible in FIG. 16) defines an annular region 274 (for example, region 274a). The "width" of the strip-like region 274a is measured from the leading edge 146 of region 274a (which is the closest to the approaching carbonization zone) to the trailing edge 148 (which is the most distant from the carbonization zone). Preferably, the width of the regions, for example, 274a, ranges from about 5.5 mm to about 12 mm, more preferably from about 7 mm to about 10 mm, and most preferably from about 8 mm to about 9 mm. Moreover, in each annular region, such as region 274a, zones 270a and 272a are separated in a circumferential direction so that when forming the tobacco rod 122 they are located in mutually opposite positions on opposite sides of the wrapper 123. Preferably, the width of each zone 270a, 272a around the circumference (i.e., in the transverse direction relative to the paper web) ranges from about 5 to about 9 mm for the transverse measurement, more preferably from about 6 mm to about 7 mm for the transverse measurement.

It should further be noted that the region 276 of the base web 140 between adjacent regions 274a, 274b, and the region between opposing zones within each zone (such as between the opposite zones 270b, 272b of zone 274b) preferably essentially do not contain additional material constituting the zone (for example, Zones 270b, 272b).

The longitudinal distance between adjacent regions (such as between zones 274a, 274b) is denoted as a strip-like interval 276, which is preferably from about 4 to about 12 mm, and more preferably from about 6 mm to about 8 mm.

Preferably, the respective opposite zones 270, 272 of each region 274 are offset relative to those in the previous row, or region to such an extent (as indicated below), and such a sufficient number of regions 274 are distributed along the tobacco rod (by selecting the width of the strip-like region and the width of the gaps between the strip-like regions) so that when the smoking article is placed on the substrate, along the tobacco rod 122 there is at least one place 101, where the corresponding pair of regions 270 would be oriented essentially along the sides of the tobacco rod 122, as shown in FIG. 14 for a pair of opposing zones 250, 250 '. With this or close to such placement on the tobacco rod 122, a situation is created where self-extinguishing can most likely occur. The location along the tobacco rod 122, where this orientation occurs most accurately, will hereinafter be referred to as the “oriented retraction region”.

Since the smoking article 120 could be laid on the substrate in a different position than that shown in FIG. 16, and / or since the pattern of zones in such may vary, it should be understood that an oriented retraction region may occur at different places along the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod 122 for different rotational positions of the tobacco rod 122. The pattern of zones and spaces 276 between the strip-like regions can be selected so that more than one oriented retraction region can occur along the tobacco rod 122.

Preferably, each zone 270, 272 and 272 'includes an amount of additive material sufficient to reduce the permeability of the wrapper in each zone to a level of from about 0 to about 12 units according to the CORESTA standard, more preferably about 7 units according to the CORESTA standard or less.

For the purposes of the present description, an additive material pattern is applied to the wrap 123 to obtain improved ignition ability characteristics and also to achieve improved self-extinguishing characteristics.

According to modern concepts, the location of the zones of the additive material in a checkerboard pattern according to the present description allows the construction of a smoking article 120 (see FIG. 16) with a predominant combination of desirable indicators of low burning ability and desirable indicators of low self-extinguishing. Drawings of regions of low permeability from the additive material create portions of the film-forming compound along the length of the tobacco rod 122, which can interact with the substrate to attenuate the lit smoking article 120 that is laid on this substrate, while these areas are made of additive (such as a film-forming compound ) induce the smoking article 120 to self-extinguish in statistically rarer situations where the smoking article 120 is held by the smoker in a free-burning environment. Thus, the smoking article 120 may exhibit a reduced burning ability, while maintaining the desired free-burning quality, or low self-extinguishing, when applying a film-forming compound to the base web as described herein.

In order to achieve the desired characteristics of the ignition ability and self-extinguishing, a pattern 300 is applied to the base web 123 of the wrapper (see FIG. 17), preferably when the base web 123 is in the unfolded state, as shown in FIG. 17, or when the base web is in a roll of cigarette paper that has just been longitudinally cut into bobbins. The purpose of the present description is to provide wrappers that, when formed into a tobacco rod 122, exhibit an incendiary rate of not more than 25, and self-extinguishing indices of not more than 50. An incendiary index of more than about 15 is obtained for the resulting smoking article; and an incendiary rate for the resulting smoking article of not more than about 10 is most preferred. Lower self-extinguishing rates are also desirable. In this regard, a more preferred self-extinguishing rate is less than about 25; while the most preferred self-extinguishing rate is not less than about 10.

With specific reference to FIG. 17, the transverse dimensions of the wrapper 123 are selected based on the diameter of the final smoking article (from about 7 to about 10 mm) and taking into account the overlap of the material in the longitudinal seam by about 1 to about 2 mm. For example, assuming a seam with an overlap of 1 mm, the size of the paper wrapper across the web can be about 27 mm for a smoking article having a circumference of about 25.6 mm.

Preferably, the pattern 300 is applied to the base web 140 so that a plurality of circumferentially extending regions 274a, 274b, 274c, 274d (indicated by broken lines in FIG. 17) are placed in separated places along the tobacco rod 122 (see arrow 142 in FIG. . 17). Additional material may be applied to one or both sides of the base web. Preferably, three to six, and most preferably four to six, regions 274 are placed along the nominal length of the tobacco rod 122. Each of the annular regions 274a, 274b, 274c, 274d has a longitudinal pitch along the tobacco rod 122 (i.e., the length measured along tobacco rod from the beginning of one region to the beginning of the neighboring region), which is smaller than the nominal length of the tobacco rod 122. When choosing a length of the longitudinal pitch of approximately 25% of the nominal length, four o will be placed on each tobacco rod 122 domain.

Inside each annular region, for example, 274a, at least two zones, for example, 270a, 272a, of additional material are provided. It should be noted that the areas of additive material in all the figures are depicted with dotted shading in order to simplify their identification; however, in a smoking article 120 or wrapper 123 for such a smoking article, these areas of additive material may or may not be visually identifiable. Each of these zones is preferably circumferentially divided so that in the final tobacco rod 122 the zones will be opposite to each other. Moreover, for each triple of zones, for example, 274a, 274b, 274c, the zones 270b, 272b of the second region 274b are preferably offset in the circumferential direction relative to the zones 270a, 272a from the first region. Further, the zones 270c, 272c of the third region 274c are preferably circumferentially offset relative to the zones 270b, 272b of the second region 274b, and are shifted even more circumferentially relative to the zones 270a, 272a of the first region 274a.

As depicted in FIG. 17, the zones of the additive material in each region according to this embodiment are laterally displaced in the circumferential direction relative to the zones of the additive material of the neighboring region by a distance that is a function of the transverse size of the zones of the additive material. Each zone has a width measured along the tobacco rod 122 and a transverse dimension when measured across, that is, in the circumferential direction of the tobacco rod 122. For this embodiment, the width of the zone is smaller than the longitudinal pitch of the corresponding region. As seen in FIG. 17, the length of the longitudinal step may be greater than the width of the corresponding zone of the corresponding region. The areas of the additive material in subsequent regions along the tobacco rod 122 are preferably offset relative to the zones of the additive material in neighboring regions, thereby defining a pattern 300 of regions that cover portions of the base fabric along lines inclined with respect to the edge of the base fabric. Further, the pattern of zones of the additive material may be repeated, at least in part, along the length of the base web.

In the illustrated embodiment (FIG. 17), each zone is placed on the wrapper 123 so that the zone is centered along one of three paths 270, 272 and 272 ′, which paths are represented by corresponding broken lines 270, 272 and 272 ′. Thus, for example, path 270 passes through the corresponding geometric shapes of the six zones 270a, 270b, 270c, 270d, 270e, 270f. Each zone is separate from the other zones, but the zones could alternatively be in contact with each other. The paths 270, 272 and 270 'are parallel to each other and oriented at an acute angle Φ relative to the lateral edge of the wrapper 123. It should be understood that the zones 272' are preferably the same as the zones 272 and are obtained as a result of advancing in Figure 300. shown in FIG. 17, where as soon as areas 270 disappear along one edge, areas 270 'appear along the opposite edge. Each pair of zones aligned in a line across the web, for example, zones 270a, 272a, or zones 270b, 272b, can cover up to 33% of the total surface area of the corresponding region 274a, 274b. For rectangular zones, each zone preferably ranges from about 8 mm to about 10 mm in the longitudinal direction, or in width, and from about 5 mm to about 7 mm in the circumferential direction, when measured across. The gaps 276 in the longitudinal direction between the zones preferably range from 4 mm to about 12 mm, and more preferably in the range from about 6 mm to about 8 mm. The distance between the zones of the additive material in the circumferential direction preferably ranges from about 3 mm to about 20 mm, more preferably from about 5 mm to about 8 mm, and most preferably from about 5.5 mm to about 7, 0 mm

When the wrapper 123 is rolled around the tobacco to form the tobacco rod 122, the zones of the additive material at any longitudinal location are preferably spaced about 180 degrees apart. Moreover, the ratio of the area occupied by the areas of the additive material to the entire area as a whole, the total area being the sum of (i) the corresponding region 274d and (ii) the annular section between adjacent regions on one side (which ratio is here referred to as “the ratio areas of zones ”), is significantly less than one. Preferably, the area ratio of the zones ranges from less than about 20% to less than about 50%, and more preferably from less than about 20% to less than about 35%. More specifically, in some embodiments, the ratio of the area of the zones for the occupied zone to the total area may be less than 30% and even less than 25%. Generally speaking, it is desirable to keep the area occupied by the zones low, since it appears that high values (i.e., close to 1) increase the concentration of carbon monoxide in the mainstream smoke, where a low permeability wrapper is used for the tobacco rod ( yes, low value in CORESTA units).

When the wrapper 123 is formed to make the tobacco rod 122, the paths 270, 272, 272 'describe the first spiral path 272/272' (zones 272 and 272 'in FIG. 17 are combined with the formation of a spiral path 272/272') and a second spiral path 270 (including spiraling zones 270), which both extend longitudinally, around axis 134, and along the entire length of tobacco rod 122, as illustrated in FIG. 16-17. Spiral routes 272/272 'and 270 (as can be seen from FIG. 17) have a spiral angle Φ and do not intersect with each other. Preferably, both spiral routes can follow one of the directions of rotation around the tobacco rod 122 counterclockwise and clockwise. As illustrated, both routes 270, 272 ′ follow a clockwise direction starting from the filter end of the tobacco rod 122, viewed from the burning end and looking towards the filter end.

The zones of Figure 300 can be formed by applying one or more layers of an aqueous film-forming composition to a base wrapper web to reduce paper permeability in these zones. The introduction of an anti-wrinkle agent in the film-forming composition allows the drawing to be applied in two passes, if desired, or in one layer, if an additional drying device is available. Alternatively, cellulosic material may also be used to form the zones. Where a film-forming composition is used, this film-forming composition may preferably include water and a high concentration plugging agent, for example, from 20% to about 50% by weight. The film-forming composition may include one or more blocking agents, such as starch, alginate, cellulose or gum, and may also include calcium carbonate as a filler. Where starch is used as the film-forming compound, a concentration of about 24% may be preferred. The film-forming composition may be applied to the base web of the wrapper 123 using intaglio printing, digital printing, coating and spraying using a template, or any other suitable method. For example, film-forming compounds and methods for applying film-forming compounds described in US Patent Application No. 11 / 500,918, which is incorporated herein by reference, may be selected to apply a pattern to a base wrapper web. If desired, zones of additive material can be formed by printing multiple consecutive layers, for example, two or more consecutive layers, with registering or alignment with respect to each other. Further, when layers are used to form zones from the additive material, the material in the layers may be the same or different. For example, one layer may be starch, while the next layer may consist of starch and calcium carbonate (or vice versa).

The currently preferred embodiment for the pattern 300 of additional material zones is illustrated in FIG. 18. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 17, zones of the additive material of FIG. 18 are quadrangular, more specifically, substantially rectangular. Preferably, at least two zones, for example, 280a, 280b, of additive material are applied in each area 274a, 274b, 274c, 274d so that they are distributed around the circumference in the finished smoking article. The circumferential dimension of each region 280a, 280b is preferably selected to be less than about 50% of the transverse dimension of the base fabric 123 in the unfolded state, and most preferably about 25% of the transverse dimension of this base fabric 123, or the circumference of the tobacco rod 122. The size of each zone 280a , 280b in the circumferential direction, if the circumferential gap between the zones 280a, 280b is added, it is preferably about 50% of the transverse dimension around the circumference of the base web 123.

The length of the zones 280a, 280b in the longitudinal direction plus the gap in the longitudinal direction between the zones 280a, 280b and the zones 282a, 282b (i.e., the length of the longitudinal step) is preferably chosen so that three or four areas will fit along the nominal length of the tobacco rod 122 of the smoking article 274a, 274b, 274c, 274d, and so that the areas of the additive material in adjacent areas are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the longitudinal extent or “width” of the zones, for example, 280a, 280b (i.e., the width of the zone or the width of the region as defined above), ranges from about 8 to about 10 mm. The amount of displacement in the circumferential direction, x, between (i) zones 282a, 282b of region 274b and (ii) zones 280a, 280b of region 274a preferably ranges from about 10% to about 35% of the total transverse dimension of the base web 123 in the expanded state . More preferably, the circumferential displacement, x, ranges from about 12% to about 35% of the total transverse dimension of the base web 123 in the expanded state. Most preferably, the circumferential displacement, x, is about half the circumferential or transverse dimension of the additive material zone 280a, 280b. Zones of additive material in other areas, 274c, 274d, are likewise even more circumferentially offset by the same amount of displacement, x, relative to each other. It should be noted, for example, that in region 274d one of the zones 286a, 286c of the additive material is cut along between the two parts of the edges of the base web 123 when the base web is in the expanded state.

The pattern 300, applied in regions 274a-274d, is preferably repeated along the length of the base web 123. Obviously, if the circumferential displacement, x, is less than 12.5% of the width of the base web in the transverse direction, then the length of the full cycle, or phase Figure 300 will define more than four areas. Conversely, if the circumferential displacement, x, is more than 12.5%, then the full cycle length of Figure 300 will be determined by less than four areas (as in the case of the figure in FIG. 17).

In an additional embodiment of Figure 300 (see FIG. 19), quadrangular zones 290a, 290b of additional material are used, namely, zones essentially in the form of parallelograms. While zones 290a, 292a are arranged so as to line up mainly in a spiral relative to each other, when the wrapper is rolled up into the tobacco rod 122, shapes of parallelograms 290, 292, 294, 296 can be selected if desired. For example, mirror images of shapes (mirrored with respect to the longitudinal direction) may be selected, even if the impression of a general spiral arrangement may be lost. Similarly, if desired, the asymmetry of the zones in the form of parallelograms can be changed. In general, however, circumferential dimensions, gaps in the circumferential direction, or offset, dimensions in the longitudinal direction, and gaps in the longitudinal direction, or offset, of zones 290, 292, 294, 296 and regions 31a-31d in this embodiment can be selected. as described in other embodiments.

In yet another additional embodiment of Figure 300 (see FIG. 20), quadrangular zones 310, 312, 314, 316 of additional material are used, namely a substantially trapezoidal shape. Here again, basically the trapezoidal zones 310a, 312a can be arranged so as to be generally spirally relative to each other when the wrapper is rolled into a tobacco rod 122. In addition, the actual shape of the trapezoidal zones 310, 312, 314, 316 can be selected optional. For example, the asymmetry of the trapezoidal zones and the proportions of the trapezoidal zones can be changed as may be desirable. In general, however, circumferential dimensions, gaps in the circumferential direction or offset, dimensions in the longitudinal direction and gaps in the longitudinal direction or offset, of zones 310, 312, 314, 316 and regions 274a-274d in this embodiment can be selected as described in other embodiments. Preferably, the leading edge 146 is the longer of the two parallel edges of the zones 310.

In yet another additional embodiment of Figure 300 (see FIG. 21), generally triangular zones 320, 322, 324, 326 of additional material are used. In general, the triangular zones 320a, 320b of the region 274a can be formed and arranged so as to touch the corresponding generally triangular zones 322a, 322b of the next neighboring region 274b. If the desired characteristics of ignition ability and self-extinguishing require this, the generally triangular zones 320a, 320b of the first region 274a may be longitudinally extending from the triangular zones 322a, 322b of the neighboring region 274b. Depending on the characteristics required for the construction of the smoking article, it is also envisaged that in general the triangular regions can be oriented so that the burning char zone of the smoldering smoking article meets the apex of the triangle and gradually increases in the transverse direction in the general triangular zones (i.e., from right to left in FIG. 21), or so that the burning carbonization zone of the smoldering smoking article meets the base of the triangular zones and the abrupt change in conditions in the zones low permeability (that is, from left to right in FIG. 21). The gaps between the triangular zones 320, 322, 324, 326 in the circumferential direction and the size of these triangular zones can be determined in accordance with the preferred ranges set forth elsewhere in the present description. Moreover, the triangular zones can be isosceles triangles as shown, or equilateral triangles, or right triangles, or any other triangular shapes that may be desired. However, in general, circumferential dimensions, gaps in the circumferential direction or displacement, dimensions in the longitudinal direction and gaps in the longitudinal direction or displacement of zones 320, 322, 324, 326 and regions 274a-274d in this embodiment can be selected as described in other embodiments. Preferably, the triangular shapes of zones 320 are oriented so that the leading edge 146 (closest to the approaching carbonization zone) is clearly marked.

The effect of these embodiments of the drawing 300 of the wrapper will be more clear when considering FIG.22-24. These figures illustrate three different positions of the smoking article 120 resting on the substrate 260 and are illustrative of the interaction that occurs between the low permeability zones of the additive material and the substrate 260. One position (see FIG. 22) illustrates a side view of the smoking article 120 according to the present description. The rotation of the smoking article at an angle of 45 ° around its longitudinal axis (clockwise from the left end in FIG. 22) results in a vertical profile similar to that shown in FIG. 23. Similarly, the further rotation of the smoking article 120 by an additional angle of 45 ° (also clockwise from the left end in FIG. 22) leads to a vertical profile, which is illustrated in FIG. 24. In each of FIGS. 22-24, it can be seen that at least one pair of zones of the additive material is positioned on the sides of the smoking article at some point along the length of the tobacco rod 122, for example, zones 332, 332 'in FIG. 22, zones 324, 324 'in FIG. 23, and zones 326, 326 'in FIG. 24. In those places where the zones 332, 332 'of the additive material are positioned essentially on the sides of the smoking article 120 (FIG. 26), the zones 332, 332' are located essentially vertically, or generally perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 260. This orientation zones 332, 332 'is best illustrated in FIG. 27, where the opposite zones 332, 332 ′ are located on the respective opposite sides of the smoking article 120, when viewed in cross section, are substantially symmetrically positioned relative to the diameter of the tobacco rod 122, which diameter is substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate 260.

The orientations of the zones of the additive material at other locations in the longitudinal direction along the smoking article 20 are shown in FIG. 25 and 26. in FIG. 25 zones 330, 330 'of the additive material are positioned so that one zone 330 touches the substrate 260. Zones 334, 334' of the smoking article 120 in FIG. 22 must also be positioned as in FIG. 25, when viewed from the right end in FIG. 22. in FIG. 26, one zone 336 'is in contact with the substrate 260, but another opposing zone 336 is located on the upper part of the smoking article 120. From the consideration of FIGS. 22-24, it will be obvious that regardless of the angular position of the smoking article 120 having the described pattern of zones of additive material, at least one pair of opposing areas of the additive material is positioned, as shown in FIG. 25, or in FIG. 27, or in a pivot position between these positions. This position was named above as an oriented retraction region.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the position of the opposing zones of the additional material during rotation in a spiral creates a situation where, no matter what side part of the wrapper is placed on the substrate 260, there will always be at least one place in the longitudinal direction in which the film-forming compound on the side parts not in contact with the substrate 98, at the same time having a sufficient amount of additional material and a geometric shape so that these zones can interact with the substrate 260 for self-extinguishing of the smoking article, when the combustion line reaches this place in the longitudinal direction. This fact is realized in an improved rate of incendiary ability of a smoking article and allows developing a smoking article with an incendiary index of not more than 25%. However, in the absence of substrate 260, the smoking article does not self-extinguish, still remaining in a state of free combustion, such as when the smoking article is in the hands of a smoker. This fact is manifested in an improved self-extinguishing rate of a smoking article and allows designing a smoking article with a self-extinguishing rate of not higher than 50%, which self-extinguishing rate may be an average self-extinguishing rate. Self-extinguishing rates at an angle of 0 ° can be much lower than the average self-extinguishing rate, and can be less than 25%.

In the above embodiments, the smoking article generally has a circular cross section. Therefore, it is possible to put the smoking article on the substrate 260 on either side. However, the figure indicated here may be such that the burning characteristics described above (ignition ability no more than 25% and self-extinguishing no more than 50%) with respect to FIGS. 14 and 15 can be implemented regardless of which side of the smoking article is laid on the substrate 260. Preferably, the pattern is selected so that when the base web is wrapped around the tobacco rod 122, the zones of the film-forming compound are on opposite sides without contact with the substrate 260 in one or more its (preferably at least two) places in the longitudinal direction along the tobacco rod 122.

If desired, other geometric shapes other than quadrangular ones, for example, including ovals, other polygons or the like, can also be imparted to the zones of the additive material. Further, the above-described angle of rotation of the helix Φ can be increased, while maintaining the dimensions of the zones the same as in the illustrated embodiments. This change can place the zones in the area of overlap of the pattern (or at least place the zones in close proximity to each other). Alternatively, a multi-tiered spiral pattern can be formed by increasing the size of the zones or zones in the circumferential direction, at the same time at the same angle of rotation of the spiral as in FIG. 17 and / or an area of the same size as that shown in FIG. 17 can be placed between each zone and along the paths 270, 272, 272 ”(so that there are 12 zones instead of 6 along the path 270).

CRYSTAL STRIPED AREAS

Of course, within the competence of the utility model, there are also other drawings for areas of additional material. Moreover, the inclusion of an anti-wrinkle agent in aqueous solutions used to form stripe-shaped regions allows efficient use of intricate patterns.

For example, in yet another embodiment, the strip-like region may include first, second, and third zones of additive material, which may be applied by any of the methods disclosed herein, wherein the second zone includes perforations that are preferably filled with clogging material that melts or evaporates when the burning charring zone reaches a strip-like region to thereby provide increased permeability of the second zone.

Thus, a wrapper for a smoking article is presented, including a base web and at least one transverse strip-like region with first, second and third zones. The first and third zones include additional material that reduces the permeability of the wrapper. Each of the first and third zones has such a width that, if any of the first and third zones is applied separately to the wrappers of smoking articles, smoking articles will exhibit statistically significant values of the frequency of events of complete combustion over the entire length and a statistically rare frequency of events or lack thereof self-extinguishing in free combustion (for example, after testing a batch of 20-50 cigarettes). The sum of the widths of the first and third zones is such that if the zones were applied to the wrappers of smoking articles in the form of a single continuous strip (without a gap or other discontinuity), the smoking articles would exhibit a statistically rare frequency of events or the absence of such complete combustion over the entire length and statistically significant values of the frequency of self-extinguishing events under conditions of free combustion. The first and third zones are separated by a second zone. The wrapper has a higher permeability along the second zone than along the first and third zones. The second zone has a smaller width than the width of any of the first and third zones (which can have the same or different widths), so that lit smoking products, including the first, second and third zones, exhibit a statistically reduced frequency of self-extinguishing events under free-burning conditions, in comparison with smoking products, including wrappers, on which the first and third zones were applied in the form of a single continuous strip, while at the same time maintaining a statistically rare frequency of events or the absence of such th combustion over the entire length. Preferably, the first and third zones are composed of additional material uniformly distributed over the first and third zones. Optionally, the second zone may have a width substantially equal to that in the first and third zones.

The total weight of the additive material for the strip-like region preferably ranges from 0.5 grams per square meter to 15 grams per square meter (g / m ² ). Conventional cigarette paper is permeable, and permeability is usually denoted by CORESTA units that measure paper permeability in terms of volumetric flow rate (i.e., cm ³ / s) per unit area (i.e., cm ² ) per unit pressure drop (i.e., centimeters (cm) of water). The permeability of cigarette paper typically exceeds 20 CORESTA units, and preferably cigarette paper has a permeability of from about 33 to about 60 CORESTA units and a base weight of from about 22 g / m ² to 30 g / m ² . However, the permeability through the strip-like regions and the cigarette paper below them varies from 0 to 15 CORESTA units. The reduction in permeability preferably limits the flow of air necessary to maintain combustion in the carbonization zone of the cigarette near the strip-like region.

The first and third zones preferably have a higher base weight in grams per square meter than the intermediate second zone; for example, the base weight in grams per square meter in the first and third zones may be at least twice the base weight in grams per square meter in the second zone. The second zone may have a gap. As used here, the term “gap” refers to the divided area of the strip-like region between the first and third zones, in which there is no any additional material that reduces the permeability (that is, without layers of reducing the permeability of the additive material). To facilitate combustion in the second zone, the wrapper at the location of the second zone may include iron oxide. The second zone preferably has a higher permeability than the first and third zones.

At least one transverse strip-like region preferably includes a first printed layer in contact with the base web and, on top of the first printed layer, a second printed layer, preferably having an equal or higher base weight in grams per square meter than the first printed layer. However, the second and / or subsequent layers may have a lower base weight than the first layer. For example, the base weight in grams per square meter of the second printed layer may be at least twice the base weight in grams per square meter of the first printed layer. In one embodiment, the second zone may include a single printed layer, and each of the first and third zones may include at least two printed layers (more preferably three or more layers). Alternatively, each of the first and third zones may include at least three or four printed layers, and the second zone may include only one or two printed layers, or none at all.

Sections of the base web not containing strip-like regions preferably do not include a permeability reducing additive. As described below With reference to FIG. 30, the transverse strip-like region may include more than three zones. For example, a transverse strip-like region may include, for example, five zones, the second and fourth zones separating the first, third and fifth zones, and the wrapper has a higher permeability along the second and fourth zones than along the first, third and fifth zones.

A wrapper of a smoking article is also provided, including a base web and a transverse strip-like region of additional material. A transverse strip-like region is intended to provide self-extinguishing of smoking articles, including a transverse strip-like region, when left to lie on a substrate. The wrapper further includes an intermediate zone with higher permeability along the transverse strip-like region so that the frequency of self-extinguishing events of smoking articles including the wrapper is statistically reduced compared to those without the intermediate zone.

In a further embodiment, the wrapper of the smoking article includes a base web and at least one transverse strip-like region including first, second, and third zones on the base web. At least one transverse strip-like region may not contain fillers and, optionally, at least one of the zones is formed, at least in part, from an additional material that includes a filler. The additive material is preferably evenly distributed over the first and third zones. The first and third zones are outside the second zone, and the overall structure of the wrapper in the second zone has a higher permeability compared to the general structure of the wrapper in the first and third zones.

Additionally provided is a wrapper for a smoking article including a base web and at least one transverse strip-like region including a first, second and third zone on the base web. The first and third zones are outside the second zone, the second zone has a higher permeability compared to the first and third zones, and the second zone and the first and third zones include additional material.

Moreover, a method for manufacturing a banded wrap of a smoking article is provided, comprising supplying a base web and forming at least one transverse strip-like region including a first, second and third zone on the base web. The first and third zones are located outside the second zone, the second zone has a higher permeability compared to the first and third zones, and at least the first and third zones are formed from an additive material that does not contain fillers. Optionally, at least one of the zones is formed, at least in part, of an additional material that includes a filler. The additive material is preferably uniformly distributed over the first and third zones.

Next, a method for manufacturing a banded wrap of a smoking article is provided, comprising supplying a base web and forming at least one transverse strip-like region including a first, second and third zone on the base web. The first and third zones are outside the second zone, the second zone has a higher permeability compared to the first and third zones, and the second zone and the first and third zones are formed of additional material. Optionally, at least one of the zones is formed, at least in part, of an additional material that includes a filler. The additive material is preferably uniformly distributed over the first and third zones.

FIG. 28-33 illustrate smoking articles including creased strip paper, as described herein. More specifically, FIG. 28 illustrates a smoking article having two strip-shaped regions 126, each of which includes first and third zones of additive material, separated by a second zone 404, which may be in the form of a gap, or may be in the form of a zone with a reduced amount of additional material. Each of the first and third zones 400, 402 of the additive material may have a width of, for example, about 2-5 mm, and the second zone 404 may be, for example, about 1-2 mm wide. More specifically, each of the first and third zones 400, 402 of the additive material may have a width of, for example, 3 mm, and the second zone 404 may be, for example, a width of about 1.5 or 2 mm. The first and third zones 400, 402 of the additive material preferably include multiple layers of the additive material, for example, such as two, three or four layers of the additive material. The additive material is preferably evenly distributed over the first and third zones.

FIG. 30 illustrates a smoking article having two strip-like regions 126, each of which includes first, third and fifth zones of additive material, separated by second and fourth zones 416, 418, which may be in the form of gaps (see FIG. 31 ) or in the form of zones with reduced levels of additional material (see FIG. 38). Each of the first, third and fifth zones 410, 412, 414 of the additive material may have a width of, for example, from about 2 mm to about 3 mm, and each of the second and fourth zones 416, 418 may be, for example, from about 1 mm up to about 2 mm wide. More preferably, each of the first, third and fifth zones 410, 412, 414 of the additive material may have a width of, for example, about 2 mm, and each of the second and fourth zones 416, 418 may be, for example, a width of about 1 mm or less . The first, third and fifth zones of the additive material preferably include multiple layers of additive material, for example, such as two, three or four layers of additive material. The additive material is preferably evenly distributed over the first, third and fifth zones 410, 412, 414.

FIG. 32 illustrate a smoking article having two strip-like regions 126, each of which includes first and third zones of additive material, separated by a second zone 424 with less additive material. Each of the first and third zones of additive material may have a width of, for example, from about 2 to about 3 mm, and the second zone 424 with less additive material may be, for example, of from about 1 mm to about 2 mm wide. More preferably, each of the first and third zones of additive material 420 may have a width of, for example, 3 mm, and the second zone 424 with less additive material may be, for example, a width of about 2 mm or less. The first and third zones of the additive material preferably include multiple layers of additive material, for example, such as two, three or four layers of additive material, while the second zone 424 with less additive material may include, for example, one or two layers additional material. The additive material is preferably evenly distributed over the first and third zones 420, 422. Although the second zones 424 operate with a width of 1 mm, an embodiment is better implemented with a width of 1.2 mm or more.

With reference to FIGS. 28-33, slit strip paper facilitates the use of lower permeability wrappers for a given carbon monoxide (CO) level than previous strip paper designs. For example, it was found that a tobacco rod containing paper that has a permeability of 33 units according to the CORESTA standard and a CO emission level (FTC) (US Federal Trade Commission) of 11 mg would produce 15 mg CO (FTC) if the previous ones were used strip options without further change. To counteract this increase, the permeability of the wrapper would have to be increased to around 46 CORESTA units. Such changes create many consequences in the design of a cigarette, for example, such as a change in the number of puffs, a possible decrease in the manufacturability of paper processing and the like. In contrast, slit banded paper having a permeability of 33 CORESTA units provides 12 mg CO (FTC). Thus, the slit banded paper technology described here facilitates the use of strips with less effect on carbon monoxide (CO) (FTC) levels.

Turning to FIG. 34-37, further embodiments may include strip-like regions in which the zones are longitudinally extending instead of circumferential. More specifically, FIG. 34 corresponds to the configuration of the strip-like region of FIG. 30 with zones extending in the longitudinal direction instead of the circumferential direction, and FIG. 36 corresponds to the configuration of the strip-like region of FIG. 32, with zones extending in the longitudinal direction instead of the circumferential direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the first layer of each strip-like region is preferably formed using an aqueous plugging composition that extends completely over the entire strip-like region. A subsequent layer (or layers) of each strip-like region can be formed using the same aqueous film-forming composition or different aqueous compositions. For example, all multiple layers may include layers containing exclusively starch, or multiple layers may include one or more layers containing exclusively starch and one or more layers containing calcium carbonate (in any order). During intaglio printing, the capping composition is preferably heated to a temperature at which its viscosity varies in the range of viscosities suitable for intaglio printing. When the heated plugging composition is applied, the plugging composition is cooled or quenched and may gel. Thus, part of the free water in the clogging composition becomes bound and unable to moisten the underlying fibers of the base fabric or migrate to them. This binding of free water inhibits the formation of undulation, wrinkling and / or wrinkling in the base fabric. Subsequent layers of strip-like regions preferably have an increased thickness compared to the first layer. The strip-like regions provide a decrease in permeability towards the underlying underlying fabric, which preferably limits the air supply necessary to maintain combustion in the carbonization zone of the cigarette near the strip-like region.

The capping composition used in the capping composition may be selected from the group consisting of starch, alginate, carrageenin, guar gum, pectin and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the capping composition comprises starch, more preferably oxidized starch, such as, for example, tapioca starch, more particularly oxidized tapioca starch. In these embodiments, the closure composition preferably does not contain fillers, such as, for example, calcium carbonate, which would increase the burning rate within the strip-like region. In a preferred embodiment, the seal composition used for printing includes water and the seal composition in an amount of from about 20% to about 50%, by weight. At higher concentrations of the clogging composition in the composition, the latter may experience gelation when its temperature drops rapidly. Thus, free water may bind in a printed strip-like region.

At room temperature (about 23 ° C), the high solids clogging composition has a viscosity in excess of about 200 mPa ^. sec (centipoise (cp)), and unsuitable for intaglio printing; however, at temperatures ranging from about 40 ° C to about 90 ° C, the viscosity of the capping composition decreases to a degree sufficient for use as an intaglio printing composition. For gravure printing, the upper limit of usable viscosity is about 200 MPa ^. sec Most preferably, the capping composition has a viscosity of about 100 MPa ^. sec at a temperature in the range from 40 ° C to 90 ° C, so that the composition can be sharply cooled by contact with paper after performing intaglio printing at this temperature. The viscosity of the composition at room temperature is also important. High viscosity at room temperature is necessary for the plugging composition to gel at room temperature.

Preferably, strip-like regions are applied to the wrapper using successive gravure printing operations. When performing intaglio printing, it is possible to provide an accurate register for successive printing operations. Accordingly, gravure printing can be used for efficient printing by printing not only the first layer of strip-like regions, but also optional subsequent layers.

EXAMPLES

The following examples are intended to be non-limiting and only illustrative. Cigarettes with five different wrappers (that is, wrappers with five different configurations of stripe-shaped areas) were tested for ignition ability (“ignition ability”) and self-extinguishing at an angle of 0 ° (horizontal position). The base web of each of the wrappers had a permeability of 33 units according to the CORESTA standard and a base weight of 25 g / m ² .

Table X
IP represents incendiary ability, SE represents self-extinguishing Wrapper Band configuration * The total width of the strip-like area Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Ignition ability average Self-propelling at 0є A The control 6 mm 0% 0% 0% 0% 95% AT 3-1-3 7 mm 0% 2.5% 0% 0.8% 60% FROM 3-2-3 8 mm 0% 0% 5% 1.7% 25% D 2-2-2 6 mm 2.5% 0% 0% 0.8% 45% E 2-1-2-1-2 8 mm 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% twenty% * Numbers refer to zone widths in mm (see Tables XI-XV below)

With reference to Table X, the wrapper A was a control, including a continuous, continuous printed strip-like region with a width of 6 mm, having a dosage amount of additional material 5.5X. As used here, the term "dosage of additive 5.5X" means an amount of from 8 g / m ² to 9 g / m ² additional material based on dry weight, and a base weight of 26.5 g / m ² for strip-shaped areas with a width of 6 mm with a phase of 27 mm (i.e., the distance from the leading edge of the strip-like region to the leading edge of the next strip-like region) deposited on a base web with a base weight of 25 g / m ² .

Table XI
Wrapper Options B Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Width 3 mm 1 mm 3 mm Additive Layers 2 one 2 Dosage of additive per layer 1,5x / 4x 1,5x / 0 1,5x / 4x General additive material 5.5x 1,5x 5.5x

Table xii
C wrapper options Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Width 3 mm 2 mm 3 mm Additive Layers 2 one 2 Dosage of additive per layer 1,5x / 4x 1,5x / 0 1,5x / 4x General additive material 5.5x 1,5x 5.5x

Table XIII
D wrapper options Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Width 2 mm 2 mm 2 mm Additive Layers 2 2 2 Dosage of additive per layer 1,5x / 4x 1,5x / 2x 1,5x / 4x General additive material 5.5x 3,5x 5.5x

Table XIV
E wrapper options Zone 1 Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4 Zone 5 Width 2 mm 1 mm 2 mm 1 mm 2 mm Additive Layers 2 one 2 one 2

Dosage of additive per layer 1,5x / 4x 1,5x / 0 1,5x / 4x 1,5x70 1,5x / 4x General additive material 5.5x 1,5x 5.5x 1,5x 5.5x

Compared to control wrapper A, wrappers B-E showed a desirable decrease in self-extinguishing, while maintaining incendiary ability (i.e., without a significant increase in incendiary ability). In particular, wrapper B shows an improvement over control wrapper A, as is evident from a decrease in the average self-extinguishing rate from 95 to 60%. Further, when comparing the wrappers B and D, it can be seen that with an increase in the width of the second zone from 1 mm to 2 mm, the average self-extinguishing rate decreases from 60% to 25% (at the same time, approximately maintaining the incendiary rate). Thus, the width of the second zone is preferably more than 1 mm, preferably about 1.5 mm or about 2 mm. While good results were also obtained with wrapper C, which showed an average self-extinguishing rate of 45%, the best results were shown on wrapper E, which showed an average self-extinguishing rate of 20%.

It should be noted that the wrapper E having a strip-like region, which includes the first, second, third, fourth and fifth zones, and which showed the best results, had a width of the second and fourth zones with a higher permeability of 1 mm. On the contrary, the wrapper B, having a strip-like region including only the first, second and third zones, with a second zone width with a higher permeability of 1 mm, was not so effective. Thus, wrappers having strip-like regions including only the first, second and third zones preferably have wider zones with higher permeability (i.e., about 1.5 mm or about 2 mm) than zones with higher permeability in the wrappers, having strip-like regions including the first, second, third, fourth and fifth zones.

Moreover, a method of manufacturing a banded wrap of a smoking article may include feeding the base web and forming at least one transverse strip-like region including the first, second and third zones on the base web. The first and third zones are located outside the second zone, the second zone having a higher permeability compared with the first and third zones, and at least the first and third zones are formed from an additive material that does not contain fillers. Optionally, at least one of the zones is formed, at least in part, of an additional material that includes a filler. The additive material is preferably evenly distributed in the first and third zones.

Further, a method of manufacturing a banded wrap of a smoking article may include supplying a base web and forming at least one transverse strip-like region including a first, second and third zone on the base web. The first and third zones are located outside the second zone, the second zone having a higher permeability compared to the first and third zones, and the second zone and the first and third zones are formed of additional material. Optionally, at least one of the zones is formed, at least in part, of an additional material that includes a filler. Preferably, the additive material is evenly distributed in the first and third zones.

In a preferred embodiment, the first layer of each strip-like region is preferably formed using an aqueous plugging composition that extends completely over the entire strip-like region. A subsequent layer (or layers) of each strip-like region can be formed using the same aqueous film-forming composition or different aqueous compositions. For example, all multiple layers may include layers containing exclusively starch, or multiple layers may contain one or more layers containing exclusively starch and one or more layers containing calcium carbonate (in any order). During intaglio printing, the capping composition is preferably heated to a temperature at which its viscosity varies in the range of viscosities suitable for intaglio printing. When the heated plugging composition is applied, the plugging composition is cooled or quenched and may gel. Thus, part of the free water in the clogging composition becomes bound and unable to moisten the underlying fibers of the base fabric or migrate to them. This binding of free water inhibits the formation of undulation, wrinkling and / or wrinkling in the base fabric. Subsequent layers of strip-like regions preferably have an increased thickness compared to the first layer. The strip-like regions provide a decrease in permeability towards the underlying underlying fabric, which preferably limits the air supply necessary to maintain combustion in the carbonization zone of the cigarette near the strip-like region. In embodiments that include a layer of an additive material that includes calcium carbonate, this layer is preferably applied as the top layer for the strip-like region, intended for the outer side of the wrapper or adjacent to the strip-wrap region, or inside the wrapper so as to maximize its favorable effect on the appearance of a smoking article.

The capping composition of the strip-like regions can be selected from the group consisting of starch, alginate, carrageenin, guar gum, pectin and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the capping composition comprises starch, more preferably oxidized starch, such as, for example, tapioca starch, more particularly oxidized tapioca starch. In embodiments, the closure composition preferably does not contain fillers, such as, for example, calcium carbonate, which would increase the burning rate within the strip-like region. In a preferred embodiment, the seal composition used for printing includes water and the seal composition in an amount of from about 20% to about 50%, by weight. At higher concentrations of the clogging composition in the composition, the latter may experience gelation when its temperature drops rapidly. Thus, free water may bind in a printed strip-like region.

At room temperature (about 23 ° C), the high solids clogging composition has a viscosity in excess of about 200 mPa ^. sec (centipoise (cp)), and unsuitable for intaglio printing; however, at temperatures ranging from about 40 ° C to about 90 ° C, the viscosity of the capping composition decreases to a degree sufficient for use as an intaglio printing composition. For gravure printing, the upper limit of usable viscosity is about 200 MPa ^. sec Most preferably, the capping composition has a viscosity of about 100 MPa ^. sec at a temperature in the range from 40 ° C to 90 ° C, so that the composition can be sharply cooled by contact with paper after performing intaglio printing at this temperature. Such a capping composition may include 24% by weight of starch. Alternatively, the capping composition may include 20% by weight of starch, which has a viscosity of about 10 MPa ^. sec to 40 MPa ^. sec at room temperature, and low viscosity at higher temperatures. The viscosity of the composition at room temperature is also important. High viscosity at room temperature is necessary for the plugging composition to form gels at room temperature.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of a smoking article 120 having strip-like regions with inclined slots 450. FIG. 40 is an exemplary view of inclined slots on an expanded wrapper 140. FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a smoking article 120 having strip-like regions 126 with one or, optionally, two longitudinal slots 460 that end near the front edge 146 and the rear edge 148 of the strip-like region 126.

FIG. 42 is a side view of a smoking article including strip paper with strip-like regions having sloping slots, as shown in FIG. 39. However, in contrast to FIG. 39, the inclined slots 450 are inclined in a direction opposite to that for the slots in FIG. 39.

In yet another embodiment, the use of circumferential slots in both the circumferential and longitudinal directions is considered (see FIG. 43). The resulting additive material pattern resembles divided regions 126 having a plurality of zones 460 per se.

In other embodiments, longitudinally extending strip-like regions 470 are spirally wound around the length of the smoking article 120 (see FIGS. 44-46). These spiral arrangements are well suited mainly for round cigarettes. When the smoking article 120 is in free-fire conditions, the opposing spiral-wound longitudinal strip-like regions restrict air access only to the burning charring zone in the tobacco rod due to their reduced permeability. However, the unconsolidated parts of the wrapper provide the smoking article with the opportunity to have stable and favorable conditions for maintaining combustion in the advancing carbonization zone of the smoking article. On the other hand, a radically different situation occurs when a smoking article is placed on a substrate. Opposite spiral-wound longitudinal strip-like regions and the substrate interact in such a way that they create much smaller areas through which air can enter the base web, as discussed earlier.

FIG. 44 illustrates a smoking article 120 including spiral longitudinal strip-like regions 470, which are preferably extending along the length of the wrapper. It should be understood that the width of these spiral strips 470 in the circumferential direction is preferably selected so that the spiral strips 470 cover no more than about 33% of the surface area of the wrapper 123 covering the tobacco rod. The angle β of rotation of the spiral (see FIG. 12) of the spiral longitudinal strip-like regions 470 is equal to the arctangent (2I / c), where “I” represents the length of the tobacco rod and “c” represents the circumference of the smoking article. With this initial position, the spiral longitudinal strip-like regions 470, as shown in FIG. 44, the smoking article 120 has one place along its length where the spiral longitudinal strip-like regions 470 are in an opposite orientation to the diameter of the smoking article which is parallel to the substrate when the smoking article 120 is placed on the substrate during the test.

Preferably, the rotation angle β of the helix of the spiral longitudinal strip-like regions is selected so that at least one place along the tobacco rod matches the configuration shown in FIG. 12, regardless of the rotational position of the smoking article relative to its longitudinal axis. More preferably, the rotation angle β of the spiral is selected to vary between approximately arctangent (2I / c) and approximately arctangent (I / c), so that at least two places along the tobacco rod correspond to the arrangement according to FIG. 12, regardless of the rotational position of the smoking article relative to its longitudinal axis. If desired, the rotation angle β of the spiral can be selected with even lower values than the arctangent (I / c), so that along the length of the tobacco rod there are even more situations according to FIG. 12.

Such embodiments preferably provide that, regardless of the angular position of the smoking article relative to the substrate, the smoking article will have at least one place, and preferably two, three, four or more places, along its length, where the spiral longitudinal strip-like regions are positioned such so that in the cross section the strip-like regions are arranged essentially symmetrically at the ends of the main dimension of the cross section oriented parallel to the underlying sub ATU, that is, similar to the cross-sectional view in FIG. 12. Preferably, the longitudinal strip-like regions cover 25% or less of the surface area of the smoking article, and / or have a circumferential width of less than or equal to about 6 mm. Preferably, each longitudinal strip-like region includes an additive material in an amount sufficient to reduce the permeability of the wrapper in each longitudinal strip-like region from about 0.0 to about 12 CORESTA units, more preferably about 7 CORESTA units or less.

When the angle β reaches 0, the strip-like regions 126 become longitudinal stripes 480 (see FIG. 48), positioned mainly parallel to the axis of the smoking article 120.

The wrapper of the smoking article may also include a base web 140 (see FIG. 49) having a nominal permeability and a plurality of stripe-shaped regions 126 with a sufficient amount of additional material so that the wrapper has a permeability in the stripe-shaped region less than the nominal permeability of the base web. The leading edge 500 of each striated region 126 may be serrated. Optionally, the trailing edge 502 of the strip-like region may also be serrated.

While those skilled in the art can imagine the various layouts of the gear areas, some such layouts are illustrated in the accompanying figures. For example (see FIG. 50), the strip-like region 12 may have a leading edge 500 in which depressions 504 are located between the teeth 506. In this embodiment, the teeth 506 have a transverse dimension of the base web 140 that is substantially equal to a transverse dimension of the depressions 504 direction. As depicted, the teeth 506 and their associated depressions 504 may be substantially rectangular. However, if desired, the teeth 506 and depressions 504 may have other geometric shapes, including, without limitation, quadrangular, trapezoidal, triangular, hexagonal, and other regular or irregular geometric configurations. The distance between the tip of the tooth 506 and the bottom of the adjacent cavity 504 may vary from about 2 mm to about 5 mm, and may preferably be about 3 mm. A similar gear arrangement may also be provided at the trailing edge of the strip-like region 126.

With reference to FIG. 51, the proportions of the teeth 524 and the depressions 526 of the leading edge 520 are different from the arrangement according to FIG. 50. in FIG. 51 teeth 524 may have a dimension across the web of about half the size across the web of the adjacent cavity 526. However, the total number of pairs of teeth 524 and cavities 526 generally corresponds to the nominal circumference of the smoking article, as discussed above. The height of the teeth 524, or the depth of the depressions 526, preferably varies in the same range of values as discussed in connection with FIG. 59. At the trailing edge of the strip according to the embodiment of FIG. 51, the dimensions across the canvas of the teeth of the rear edge 530 and the troughs 528 of the rear edge are different from the dimensions across the canvas of the teeth of the front edge and the troughs of the front edge.

With reference to FIG. 52, the leading edge of the stripe region 126 may have substantially the same characteristics discussed above in connection with FIG. 50. However, the trailing edge 540 may have teeth 542 having dimensions across the web substantially larger than the dimensions across the web of opposing leading edge cavities 504, while the dimensions across the web of the trailing edges 544 are substantially smaller than the dimensions across the web of the corresponding opposing teeth 506 of the front edge.

FIG. 53 illustrates yet another additional embodiment of the serrated stripe regions in accordance with the present utility model. In this embodiment, the leading edge 500 may have the characteristics described above in connection with FIG. 50. However, in this embodiment, the trailing edge 550 of the toothed strip-like region 126 may be rectilinear.

While the above embodiments depict toothed edges having a traditional sawtooth shape, the toothed strip 126 of FIG. 54 has a different arrangement of the serrated edges 560. More specifically, the serrated edge 560 has teeth 506 that are essentially triangular, separated by substantially triangular depressions 504. If desired, the trailing edge 562 of the strip may be straight. However, preferably, the trailing edge 562 of the strip 126 may also have the triangular gear configuration described above in connection with the leading edge 80.

Like the toothed strip in FIG. 54, toothed strip 126 of FIG. 55 has a toothed edge 80 having teeth that are substantially triangular, divided, and defined by substantially triangular depressions. While the trailing edge 562 of the strip can be straight in FIG. 55, the trailing edge 562 of the strip also has the same triangular gear configuration as the leading edge 560. As further illustrated in FIG. 55, the strip may be subdivided into two strip-like portions 564, 56 ', which are separated by a “slot” 566. Slit 81 typically does not exceed the width of the individual strip-like parts when measured in a direction parallel to the axis of the smoking article having the stripes. The gap as a sign creates a “gap” 566 (or discontinuity) in the strip-like structure where there is less or no additional material.

FIG. 56 shows toothed strips similar to those of FIG. 55, but with a strip divided into three stripe-shaped portions 564, 564 ', 564 ”, which are separated from each other along the axis of the smoking article by a pair of slots 566, 568.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 57, the strip 126 has a different shape of the serrated edges 560. In particular, the leading edge, which is serrated (that is, cut in the form of rounded festoons). Festoons 505 (i.e., circular segments or angled protrusions) may have variable or uniform widths and / or lengths. The trailing edge 562 of the strip may be straight, serrated (in accordance with any one of FIGS. 49-56) or serrated. It is assumed that the jagged strip in FIG. 57 may further include a “slot” in the strip structure, as illustrated in FIG. 55-56. In addition, although not shown, the strip-like structure may include finely serrated (that is, having a non-uniformly wavy or sawtooth profile) front and / or rear edges, the strip optionally including one or more “slots”.

The geometric shape of the smoking article 120 may be configured to help achieve a preferred orientation in order to reduce the burning ability. For example, opposing longitudinal strip-like regions 600 (see FIG. 58) may be located at the ends of the main axis of the substantially elliptical smoking article 120A, where the main axis of the substantially elliptical smoking article 120A is naturally located in a position substantially parallel to the substrate 260 onto which a smoking article is placed.

Such a smoking article 120A is also known as an oval smoking article. The base web for the wrapper used in such an oval smoking article preferably has longitudinal strip-like regions of a film-forming compound applied thereon (the components of which may be the same as discussed elsewhere in this description). These longitudinal strip-like regions may take the form of two parallel longitudinal stripes extending in the longitudinal direction along the side portions of the smoking article. In other words, the strips can be provided on the base web so that when the tobacco rod is wrapped in paper, the strips are placed to some extent opposite each other. The smoking article 120 may include longitudinally extending strip-like regions (or stripes) that preferably extend along the entire length of the wrapper or tobacco rod. Preferably, the strip-like regions are arranged opposite one another on opposite sides of the smoking article.

Due to the natural shape of the ellipse, it can be assumed that no matter how the oval smoking article is placed on the substrate 260, the smoking article 120A will ultimately be in one of two stable positions, facing the substrate with either the top or bottom side. Therefore, even if longitudinally extending strip-like regions of additive material are formed only along the side portions of the mainly elliptical product, where the maximum curvature occurs, a film-forming compound will always be present on those side parts of the smoking article 120A that are not in contact with the sorbent 260. More furthermore, the interaction between these longitudinal strip-like regions and the substrate 260 in stable positions appears to depend on air restriction ha to the tobacco rod and leads to self-extinguishing and a low incendiary rate, regardless of how the smoking article 120 is initially placed on the substrate 230.

A predetermined pattern of placement of the additive material is typically applied to a base web having a permeability that varies in the range of about 20 to about 80 units according to the CORESTA standard. When dry, the additive often forms a film on the base web, which effectively provides local permeability reduction to values ranging from 0 to about 12 CORESTA units, more preferably from 0 to about 10 CORESTA units. In some applications, the additive material is applied as an aqueous solution containing starch.

PRINT PROCESSES

Preferably, a strip-like region is applied to the wrapper using a printing process. Intaglio printing operations are suitable for accurate registering of subsequent printing operations. Accordingly, gravure printing can be used to efficiently print not only the first layer of strip-like regions, but also optional subsequent layers.

In a sequential intaglio printing process, preferably after applying the first layer to the base web, the layer is allowed to dry on the web using suitable equipment, before being sent to the second intaglio printing apparatus, where the second layer is applied to the first layer using conventional gravure gravure printing equipment promotion. Preferably, the second layer coincides with the first layer both in width and in length; however, the second layer may have a different base weight in grams per square meter than the first layer. The capping composition of the second layer is gelled on the cooled first layer - and free water will not migrate to the paper or will not be absorbed by it. Preferably, the second layer is allowed to dry using suitable devices before moving to the subsequent intaglio printing device (s), where the subsequent layer (s) are applied. Preferably, the subsequent layer (s) coincide with the previous layer (s) both in width and in length (that is, the layers do not look like stepped); however, the subsequent layer (s) may have a different base weight in grams per square meter than the previous layer (s), and may include various compositions of the additive material. Preferably, the subsequent layer (s) are preferably allowed to dry after printing each subsequent layer in accordance with the well-known intaglio printing method and traditional intaglio printing systems.

The intaglio printing process can be used immediately after paper production, that is, with the placement of the printing device in a place near the end of the paper machine. Alternatively, the intaglio printing process can be applied in combination with rolls containing a wrapper on which strip-like regions are to be printed. For example, a roll with a wrapper having a selected permeability and a selected base weight is set so that the wrapper can be wound from the roll in the form of a continuous base web.

The base web advances, or passes through, the first gravure printing device, where the first layer of each strip-like region is printed on paper. The printing process may be performed on the felt side or on the mesh side of the paper, or both. The wrapper then passes through a second gravure printing device, where a second layer of each strip-like region is printed on the corresponding first layer. Additional layers are applied in a similar manner as described. Finally, a wrapper with printed strip-like regions is wound onto a take-up roll. The take-up roll is then cut into bobbins. The bobbins are then used to produce the desired smoking article on traditional tobacco rod making machines.

The equipment in each of the intaglio printing devices is essentially the same in its material embodiment. Accordingly, a detailed description of one of the intaglio printing devices will be sufficient to understand that other intaglio printing devices have common features, unless otherwise specified. For the manufacture of banded paper, a single-pass method can be used instead of a multi-pass method.

In the first intaglio printing apparatus, the apparatus includes an intaglio printing cylinder, or roll, generally mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. A pattern (i.e., points, lines, cells, etc.) is applied to the generally cylindrical surface of the roll using a method suitable for forming a negative image of the first layer of strip-like regions. For drawing a pattern on the surface of a gravure printing cylinder, commonly used methods of engraving (etching), chemical engraving, electronic engraving and photo engraving can be used. The roll circumference is selected so that a whole sum of nominal distances between the strip-like regions plus the widths of the strip-like regions is laid on it. Thus, for each revolution of the roll, such an integer number of the first layers of strip-like regions is printed on the wrapper.

By intaglio printing, while each layer of additive material can be applied evenly, each layer of additive material does not require uniform application. For example, a layer of additive material can be applied so that the individual parts of the layer have a base weight value different from other parts of the layer. This can be done, for example, by printing a separate part of the layer having a different base weight than other parts of the layer, in a separate printing step using additional material having a different base weight. Alternatively, the additive layer may be applied so that the individual parts of the layer have depths different from those in other parts of the layer. This can be accomplished, for example, by drawing a pattern on a gravure printing cylinder or roll in such a way as to create a separate part of the layer having a different depth than other sections of the layer.

Multiple zones, for example, the first, second and third zones of the strip-like regions described herein, can be applied in a single printing stage or in multiple printing stages. When applied in multiple printing stages, each zone that contains the additional material can be applied in a separate printing stage. For example, for a strip-like region containing the first, second and third zones, in which only the first and third zones contain additional material, the first zone can be applied in the first printing step, and the third zone can be applied in the second printing step. Alternatively, when applied in a single printing step, areas containing the additive are applied using a properly gravure intaglio printing cylinder or roll. For example, for a strip-like region containing the first, second, and third zones in which only the first and third zones contain additional material, a pattern is applied to the intaglio printing cylinder or roll so that the additional material is applied only in the first and third zones.

The printing cylinder is mounted with rotation in the opposite direction on a horizontal axis parallel to the roll axis. In some applications, the printing cylinder includes a non-metallic elastic surface. The impression cylinder is positioned between the roller and the press roller, which is also mounted to rotate around an axis parallel to the axis of the plate cylinder, and which rotates in the opposite direction to that of the printing cylinder. One of the functions performed by the press roll is to impart greater rigidity to the central part of the printing cylinder so as to ensure uniform pressure between the printing cylinder and the printing cylinder. The intaglio printing cylinder, or roll, and the printing cylinder cooperate to create a gap through which the base web advances during the printing process. The size of this gap is selected so as to compress the base web when it is moved between the plate cylinder and the printing cylinder. The pressure in the gap on the base web ensures the correct transfer of the composition from the plate cylinder to the paper.

The reservoir contains the clogging composition discussed above for forming strip-like regions on the wrapper. The reservoir communicates with a suitable pump that is capable of handling a viscous plugging composition. The capping composition can then flow into a suitable heat exchanger where the temperature of the capping composition is increased so that it ranges from about 40 ° C to about 90 ° C, so that the viscosity of the capping composition is adjusted to a level suitable for gravure printing. As discussed above, gravure printing viscosity typically requires less than about 200 mPa ^. sec (cp). Preferably, the temperature of the capping composition is selected so that the viscosity is less than about 100 MPa ^. sec For example, the clogging composition may have a viscosity of about 10 MPa ^. sec to 40 MPa ^. sec at room temperature.

Since a separate heat exchanger is provided, it may be desirable to provide thermal conditioning of the plugging composition in the tank itself. For example, heating elements and a stirrer may be placed in the reservoir to maintain an elevated temperature for the clogging composition. The arrangement of thermal conditioning in the tank has the advantage of simplifying the choice of the pump and operating conditions, since it does not require the pump to work with a clogging composition with a higher viscosity due to lower temperatures, since the clogging composition would have already been heated and therefore would have a lower viscosity . Wherever thermal conditioning is provided, whether in a tank or in a separate heat exchanger, it is important that the thermal conditioning step is carried out at a temperature selected to prevent burning of the clogging composition. Burning can cause discoloration of the clogging composition and can have a detrimental effect on the clogging characteristics of the composition. Thus, burning should be excluded when the plugging composition is thermally conditioned.

Regardless of where the thermal conditioning step is carried out, the heated capping composition is fed to a suitable applicator that distributes the capping composition along the length of the gravure printing cylinder. This dispensing step can be performed by watering and spraying the capping composition onto the plate cylinder, or simply feeding the liquid capping composition into the tray for the capping composition, which is located under the plate cylinder, between the plate cylinder and the collector. The cylinder may be heated to prevent premature cooling of the composition.

In general, the collector extends vertically around the plate cylinder to a height sufficient to collect the solution, but to a height well below the top point of the plate cylinder. When the solution reaches the top of the collector, the clogging composition may flow through the drain at the bottom of the device back into the reservoir. Thus, the clogging composition is circulated through the printing apparatus and can be maintained at a suitable viscosity level for printing by the thermal conditioning apparatus discussed above.

When the intaglio printing cylinder is rotated past the applicator and / or bath, the clogging composition adheres to the surface of the printing cylinder, filling in the indentations made in such a way to form strip-like regions. Further rotation of the plate cylinder in the direction of the gap brings the surface of the cylinder to a suitable squeegee. The squeegee extends along the entire length of the plate cylinder and is positioned to wipe the surface of the plate cylinder. In this way, those parts of the plate cylinder that form the nominal gaps between adjacent strip-shaped regions are substantially cleaned of the clogging composition, while the engraved parts of the plate cylinder, which define the strip-like regions themselves, are moved toward the gap, being filled with the sealant composition.

When the wrapper and the surface of the plate cylinder move through the gap, the clogging composition is transferred to the surface of the wrapper. The linear speed, or speed, of the movement of the wrapper is consistent with the tangential surface speed of both the plate cylinder and the printing cylinder when the wrapper passes through the gap. In this way, slipping and / or lubrication of the clogging composition on the wrapper is avoided.

The thickness of the multilayer strip-like regions is preferably less than about 20% of the thickness of the base web, and may be less than 5% of the thickness of the base web. The thickness of the first layer of the strip-like region deposited in the first gravure printing apparatus is preferably less than 4% of the thickness of the base web, and may be less than 1% of the thickness of the base web. Thus, it is seen that the thickness of the first layer is small relative to the thickness of the underlying base web.

FIG. 59 is a schematic view of a multi-section printing press. With reference to the above description of multi-stage printing, FIG. 59 illustrates a roll 600, a first gravure printing device 602, a second gravure printing device 604, a third gravure printing device 606, a prefabricated roll 608, plate cylinders 610, a printing cylinder 612, a press cylinder 614, clearances 616, a reservoir 618, a pump 620 , a heat exchanger 622, an applicator 624, a bath 626, a collection 627, a drain 628, a squeegee 630, a tension roll 632 and a guide roll 634. in FIG. 59, the structural features of the first intaglio printing device 602 contain code numbers with the suffix “a”, the corresponding features of the second intaglio printing device 604 contain the same code numbers with the suffix “b”, and the corresponding features of the third intaglio printing device 606 contain such the same code numbers with the suffix “c”.

As an alternative to printing, the strip-like regions may include a suspension of high purity fibrous cellulose (e.g. fibers, fibrils, microfibrils, or combinations thereof), or other additive material that is applied using a variety of spraying or coating methods, including application methods in which use a movable applicator with a nozzle on the molding section of a paper machine, as described in US Pat. Nos. 5,997,691 and 6,596,250, which are incorporated herein by reference.

When the word “about” is used in this description in connection with a numerical value, it is assumed that the associated numerical value includes a tolerance of ± 10% on both sides of the numerical value. Moreover, when percentages are mentioned in the present description, it is assumed that these percentages are based on weight, that is, weight percentages.

The terms and phrases used here should not be interpreted with mathematical or geometric accuracy, rather geometric terminology should be interpreted as meaning an approximation or similarity of geometric terms and principles. Terms such as “in essence” and “in substance” are intended to encompass both the exact meanings of the concepts involved and the concept, and also include an acceptable range that is consistent with the form, purpose and / or meaning.

It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present description describes a new, useful and non-obvious smoking article. It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that diverse modifications, variations, substitutions, and equivalent strips exist for the various aspects of a smoking article that have been described in the above detailed description. Accordingly, it is expressly assumed that thereby covers all such modifications, variations, replacements and equivalent strips that fall within the meaning and scope of the utility model, which are defined by the attached claims of the utility model.

Claims (8)

1. A smoking article having an incendiary rate of less than about 25 and a self-extinguishing rate of less than about 50, including: the amount of tobacco; a paper wrapper surrounding the indicated amount of tobacco and forming a tobacco rod having a mouthpiece end; a filter attached to the mouthpiece end of the tobacco rod; and an additional material applied to the paper wrapper in the form of a pattern, the additional material being applied in the form of an aqueous starch solution comprising propylene glycol as an anti-wrinkle agent in an amount of from about 0.36 g / m ² to about 0.90 g / m ² . 2. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the pattern includes at least two strip-like regions spaced longitudinally and spirally around the tobacco rod. 3. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the pattern includes a matrix of zones extending circumferentially and longitudinally along the tobacco rod. 4. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which a layer containing calcium carbonate is additionally applied to the wrapper. 5. A smoking article according to claim 4, in which a material containing calcium carbonate is additionally applied to the base web of the paper wrapper, and said starch-based additive material is applied to an additional material containing calcium carbonate. 6. A smoking article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the pattern includes a first plurality of zones and a second plurality of zones along spiral paths around the tobacco rod. 7. The smoking article of claim 6, wherein the tobacco rod has an axis and the zone of the first set is separated from the corresponding zone of the second set symmetrically with respect to the axis of the tobacco rod. 8. The smoking article according to claim 7, in which: each zone of the first set is separated from the corresponding zone of the second set symmetrically with respect to the axis of the tobacco rod; when the smoking article is located on a substrate that substantially restricts air access to the smoking article near the first side of the smoking article, not a single zone of the first set and no zone of the second set is in contact with the substrate in the first place in the longitudinal direction a smoking article, the smoking article spontaneously extinguishing when the advancing combustion line reaches said first place in the longitudinal direction; and when the smoking article is not supported by the substrate, the advancing combustion line does not experience self-extinguishing in the first place in the longitudinal direction.

Images