TW201503836A - A filter having capsule where liquid is encapsulated in and smoking goods comprising the filter - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter comprising: a capsule (CA) having side wall 10 and a pair of end walls 11 and 12, the side wall 10 constituting a side surface of a tubular shape, the pair of end walls 11 and 12 closing openings of the tubular shape respectively, liquid being encapsulated in the capsule, at least the side wall 10 being elastically deformable, at least one ring-shaped main thin wall area 10a being provided in a circumferential direction on the side wall 10, or at least one linear main thin wall area 10c being provided in a axis direction, which is perpendicular to the circumferential direction, on the side wall 10; and a cylindrical shape filter body having a storage space 204 storing the capsule (CA); wherein, the capsule (CA) is stored in the storage space 204 such that an extending direction of the ring-shaped main thin wall area 10a or the linear main thin wall area 10c is parallel to a radial direction of the filter body.

Description

Filter equipped with a liquid-filled capsule and smoking article having the same

The present invention relates to a filter equipped with a capsule enclosing a liquid suitable for use in a smoking article such as a cigarette with a filter, and a smoking article having the filter.

When smoking, it is possible to achieve mainstream by infiltrating a liquid such as an aqueous solution containing an additive related to water or a fragrance inhaling taste into a filter of a smoking article such as a cigarette with a filter. The improvement of the aroma inhalation characteristics of the smoke or the addition of the aromatic inhalation taste different from the mainstream smoke. In this case, the liquid system is loaded into the filter body in the form of a sealed capsule, and the user permeates the filter by causing the liquid to be ejected from the capsule by breaking the capsule before smoking. In detail, the user applies an external force to the capsule to break the capsule by sandwiching the capsule between the fingers from the outside of the filter.

However, since a capsule formed of a polysaccharide such as gelatin is water-soluble, it is not suitable for encapsulating a hydrophilic liquid, and such a water-soluble capsule is generally used only for sealing a hydrophobic fragrance or the like. On the other hand, although the capsule formed of the synthetic resin is not water-soluble, it is suitable for sealing a hydrophilic liquid and is excellent in shape stability. However, since the water-soluble capsule is hard, in order to make it easy to break, the capsule of the synthetic resin is managed. The various methods described below are performed.

For example, when the capsule has a cylindrical shape, a plurality of long groove portions extending radially in the end wall of the capsule are formed, and the groove portions are broken when subjected to a force other than the capsule being crushed, thereby enabling the capsule to be broken. The content liquid is ejected from the capsule (Patent Document 1).

Further, there is a capsule including a seal which is ruptured when an external force is applied to eject the content liquid (Patent Document 2).

Further, it is also known that a capsule in which two capsule halves are fitted through a ring-shaped sealing tape is formed by crushing, and the sealing tape is broken to eject the liquid (Patent Document 3).

(previous technical literature) (Patent Literature)

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-2164

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 2515794

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Publication No. 2008-528053

However, the destruction of the capsule formed by the above-mentioned synthetic resin actually requires a large force (external force), and it is not easy to pinch and crush with a finger. That is, although the foregoing prior art makes the capsule more susceptible to destruction to some extent, the rupture of the groove or the sealing tape still requires considerable strength, and thus it is required to be more susceptible to the rupturability of the capsule.

An object of the present invention is to provide a filter equipped with a capsule which is improved in degree of damage (destructible), and a smoking article such as a cigarette with a filter having such a filter.

The above object is achieved by a filter comprising a capsule having a side wall constituting a cylindrical side surface and a pair of front and rear openings respectively sealing the cylindrical shape. The end wall is filled with a liquid inside the capsule, at least the side wall is elastically deformable, and the side wall is provided with at least one loop-shaped main thin-walled region disposed along the outer circumferential direction or an axis perpendicular to the outer circumferential direction. At least one linear main thin-walled region provided in a direction; and a substantially cylindrical filter main body portion formed by accommodating a storage space for accommodating the capsule; wherein the loop-shaped main thin-walled region or the straight line is formed The capsule is housed in the storage space such that the extending direction of the main thin-walled region is parallel to the radial direction of the filter main body portion.

Further, the capsule may be provided with a linear sub-thin region formed in a direction perpendicular to the main thin-wall region when the main thin-walled main thin-wall region is formed, or may be formed with the linear main thin wall In the region, a loop-shaped sub-thin region formed in a direction perpendicular to the main thin-wall region is provided.

Further, the loop-shaped main thin-walled region, the linear sub-thin region, the linear main thin-wall region, and the loop-shaped sub-thin region may be formed as a continuous region or contain discontinuous portions. Discontinuous area.

Further, the loop-shaped main thin-walled region, the linear sub-thin region, the linear main thin-wall region, and the loop-shaped sub-thin region can be formed as a groove portion thinner than the other regions.

Further, it is preferable that the casing covering the filter main body portion is water-repellent.

Further, when the linear main thin-walled region is provided in the capsule, the casing covering the filter main body portion is preferably formed of a thin plate material capable of confirming the transparency of the storage space with eyes.

Furthermore, a smoking article such as a cigarette with a filter may be provided, and the capsule equipped with the capsule according to any one of the above may be provided.

In the capsule-mounted filter of the present invention, the user can easily break the capsule, whereby the liquid ejected from the capsule can be efficiently infiltrated into the filter or the tobacco.

Therefore, the user can easily crush the capsule and enjoy the improved inhalation taste by using a cigarette or the like with a filter attached to the filter carrying the capsule.

10‧‧‧ side wall

10a‧‧‧Circle-shaped main thin-walled area

10b‧‧‧Linear sub-thin wall area

10c‧‧‧Linear main thin-walled area

10d‧‧‧ Ring-shaped sub-thin wall area

11‧‧‧ front wall

12‧‧‧ rear end wall

100‧‧‧ cigarette body

101‧‧‧ outer paper

201‧‧‧ housing

202‧‧‧1st filter section

203‧‧‧Second filter section

204‧‧‧Storage space

FL (FL-1, FL-2) ‧ ‧ filter

CA (CA-1, CA-2, CA-3) ‧ ‧ capsules

CG‧‧ ‧ Cigarette

Fig. 1A is a view showing a state in which a filter in which the capsule of the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted is used as a cigarette as a smoking article.

Fig. 1B is a view showing a capsule in which the filter mounted in Fig. 1A is taken out.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which an external force is applied to the filter shown in Fig. 1A.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a modified example of the filter shown in Fig. 1A.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a state in which a discontinuous portion is provided in a thin-walled region of the filter shown in Fig. 1A.

Fig. 5A is a view showing a state in which a filter in which the capsule of the second embodiment of the present invention is mounted is used as a cigarette as a smoking article.

Fig. 5B is a view showing a capsule in which the filter mounted in Fig. 5A is taken out.

Fig. 6 is a view showing a state in which an external force is applied to the filter shown in Fig. 5A.

Fig. 7 is a view showing a modified example of the filter shown in Fig. 5A.

Fig. 8 is a view for explaining the case of manufacturing and evaluating the filter shown in Fig. 5A.

Fig. 9 is a view showing a modification of the filter shown in Fig. 5A.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1A is a view showing a state in which a filter in which the capsule of the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted is used for the cigarette CG as a smoking article. Fig. 1B shows a capsule CA-1 in which the filter FL-1 mounted on the cigarette CG is taken out.

In the first aspect of the drawing, the cigarette CG to which the filter is attached is configured by arranging a filter FL-1 at one end of the cigarette body 100 in which the shredded tobacco is wound into a thin bar. The filter FL-1 is provided with a filter body portion composed of two rod-shaped filter elements 202, 203 inside a flexible casing 201. For example, the housing 201 will be The sheet material is rolled into a circular shape and joined to the end portion to be formed into a cylindrical shape. Next, the cigarette main body 100 and the filter FL-1 are connected by a tipping paper 101 by covering both of them, and become a cigarette CG with a filter attached thereto.

The first filter unit 202 serving as the first filter element and the second filter unit 203 serving as the second filter element are disposed in the casing 201 so as to be separated from each other and located at both ends. As for the material of the filter portions 202 and 203, the same material as that of the filter material generally used for the filter cigarette, that is, acetate fiber, and charcoal may be used. . Furthermore, can Enough to use paper filters, etc. The materials of the filter portions 202, 203 may be the same or different.

The first filter portion 202 located at one end of the casing 201 is a cigarette side, and the second filter portion 203 at the other end constitutes a suction port. The first filter unit 202 and the second filter unit 203 are disposed separately as described above, and a storage space 204 is formed therebetween. Strictly speaking, the filter main body portion includes the first filter unit 202 and the second filter. The portion 203 and the storage space 204 therebetween are configured. The capsule CA-1 is housed inside the storage space 204.

Here, as can be seen by referring to Fig. 1B showing the capsule CA-1 in an enlarged manner, the capsule CA-1 has a hollow cylindrical shape (columnar shape), and a liquid is sealed therein.

Specifically, the capsule CA-1 has side walls 10 constituting the cylindrical side surface and one end wall 11 and 12 which respectively seals the cylindrical front and rear openings, and a liquid is sealed therein. The side wall 10 is formed of a synthetic material that is at least elastically deformable. Although the end walls 11 and 12 may be formed of the same material, they are not particularly limited as long as they are capable of reliably closing the opening of the cylindrical side wall 10.

As a synthetic material suitable for forming the side wall 10, for example, it is preferable to use an edible plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. Any of a group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyamide.

Further, as the end walls 11 and 12, the same material as the side wall may be used, or a heat seal film may be used as a film material such as a laminate film to close the opening. When such a sealing film is used, it is adhered to the opening edge of the side wall by a thermoplastic adhesive. In the case of the adhesive, for example, an adhesive polyolefin resin can be used. Low-molecular weight polyethylene and EVA (ethylene vinyl alcohol) are main components of hot-melt adhesive.

In the case of the liquid contained in the capsule CA-1, it is not particularly limited as long as it can be used to improve the taste of the cigarette, and it is possible to use, for example, simple water, water having a hydrophilic fragrance, or hydrophobicity. Any of the water of spices. When a hydrophobic fragrance is used, it may be formulated in an emulsified state, and a solvent such as propylene glycol or ethanol may be used. Specifically, as the liquid, for example, a solution in which sugar, a tobacco extract, a fragrance, or the like is dissolved in water, or a solution in which water such as brandy is used as a substrate can be used. Further, depending on the demand, it is also possible to mix a chemical liquid or the like which prevents deterioration. In addition, as the liquid, a fine solid such as a microcapsule (a fragrance capsule) containing a fragrance may be used, or a liquid may be used as a liquid, and the fragrance capsule may be suspended in an aqueous solution.

Further, it is preferable to use a sheet material having a waterproof function in at least one of the shell 201 and the outer sheet 101 so as to have a structure for preventing the liquid from leaking to the peripheral portion.

The filter FL-1 used in the cigarette CG is equipped with a capsule CA-1 which is easily broken when subjected to a force other than the user (the force of pressing the filter portion with a finger).

As described above, the filter FL-1 corresponds to the rod shape (substantially cylindrical shape) of the cigarette body 100, and the capsule CA-1 is disposed in the accommodation space 204 between the filter body portions 202 and 203. Next, as indicated by an arrow F in FIG. 1A, an external force is applied to the filter in the radial direction by a pressing operation. The side wall 10 is provided with a structure that is easily broken. Specifically, it is a thin-walled region to be described later, and the capsule CA-1 is easily broken when subjected to a force. In order to make the thin-walled area more susceptible to damage than other parts of the pressure, it is formed A thin region of the region, for example, a groove portion formed by a V-shaped groove or the like.

The side wall 10 of the capsule CA-1 of the example shown in Figs. 1A and 1B is provided with at least one (four in the first A and IB drawings) ring-shaped main thin-walled regions 10a, which are loops along the outer circumferential direction. The shape is set to be linear. Next, the cylindrical capsule CA-1 shown in FIG. 1A is placed in the storage space 204 in a lying state.

Thereby, the extending direction of the loop-shaped thin-walled region 10a is parallel to the direction in which the external force F is applied when the external force F is applied to the filter FL-1 in the radial direction by the pressing operation.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing a state in which an external force F is applied to the capsule CA-1.

The side wall 10 of the capsule CA-1 is provided with a main thin-walled region 10a (four in the figure) parallel to the direction in which the external force F acts. If such a main thin-walled region 10a is provided, it is deformed and bent when an external force is applied, and when the stress concentrated on the meandering portion 13 reaches or exceeds a certain value, it is broken as shown. After the external force F acts, since the pressure in the capsule CA-1 rises, the capsule CA-1 also generates a force in a direction perpendicular to the external force F. Therefore, the main thin-walled region 10a parallel to the external force F is easily broken.

Fig. 3 shows an improvement example in which a linear sub-thin region 10b is provided in a direction perpendicular to the loop-shaped main thin-walled region 10a. The main thin-walled region 10a has a loop shape, and the sub-thin region 10b has a linear shape extending in the direction of the axis CL perpendicular to the outer circumferential direction of the main thin-walled region 10a. When the sub (auxiliary) thin-walled region 10b is formed in this manner, the capsule CA-1 can be made to be more easily broken.

Further, it is not always necessary to make the main thin-walled region 10a or the linear sub-thinned region 10b into a continuous linear region. That is, it can also be formed as included A discontinuous form of a portion (discontinuous portion) in which a thin-walled region is not provided. Fig. 4 is a view showing a case where the discontinuous portion 14 is provided in the main thin-walled region 10a of the loop shape.

Further, in the case where the main thin-walled region 10a and the sub-thinned region 10b are included in Fig. 3, the discontinuous portion may be formed in the same manner. In this case, only one of the main thin-walled region 10a and the sub-thinned region 10b may be formed, or both.

Further, it is not limited to the discontinuous type, and may be, for example, a regular rupture line shape or a rupture line shape in which the rupture position is irregular.

Hereinafter, a case where the cigarette CG in which the filter FL-2 of the capsule CA-2 formed as the second embodiment is mounted is used will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the overlapping description will be omitted by omitting the same reference numerals to the parts already described, and the description will be focused on the different parts.

Fig. 5A is an example of a case where the filter FL-2 on which the capsule of the present invention is mounted is used for the cigarette CG. Fig. 5B is a view showing the removal of the capsule CA-2 mounted on the filter FL-2.

The capsule CA-2 exemplified in Figs. 5A and 5B is provided with at least one linear main thin-walled region 10c along the direction of the axis CL of the cylindrical side wall 10 (perpendicular to the outer circumferential direction). Next, the cylindrical capsule CA-2 shown in Fig. 5A is placed in the storage space 204 in an upright state.

Thereby, the extending direction of the linear thin-walled region 10c is parallel to the direction in which the external force F is applied when the external force F is applied to the filter FL-2 in the radial direction by the pressing operation.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which an external force F is applied to the capsule CA-2.

As described above, the side wall 10 of the capsule CA-2 is provided with a main thin-walled region 10c parallel to the direction in which the external force F acts. When such a main thin-walled region 10c is provided, the external force F is deformed when the external force F is applied. When the stress reaches or exceeds a certain value, as shown in the figure, the bent portion 13 which is the most curved portion and the stress concentration is broken. After the external force F acts, since the pressure in the capsule CA-2 rises, the capsule CA-2 also generates a force in a direction perpendicular to the external force F. Therefore, the main thin-walled region 10c parallel to the external force F is easily broken.

Furthermore, in the present example, it is preferable to make the position of the capsule CA-2 in the accommodation space 204 visible to the eye. For example, when the casing 201 including the storage space 204 and covering the filter main body portion is made of a transparent thin plate material, the storage space 204 can be confirmed with eyes. Further, the outer layer paper 101 covering the outer side is also a transparent thin plate material. In this way, the user can confirm the position of the capsule CA-2 and crush it.

In this case, for example, as shown in Fig. 6, a character such as "PUSH" is added, or if the character is too small to be recognized, any one of the marks (a color such as red or blue on the pressed surface) is added. Preferably, the user can confirm the position of the pressing.

Fig. 7 shows an improvement example in which a loop-shaped sub-thin region 10d is provided in a direction perpendicular to the linear main thin-walled region 10c. In the present example, the main thin-walled region 10c is linearly extended in the direction of the axis CL, and the sub-thinned region 10d is formed in a loop shape. When the sub (auxiliary) thin-walled region 10d is formed in this manner, the capsule CA-2 can be made more susceptible to destruction.

Further, in the second embodiment, the main thin-walled region 10c or the loop-shaped sub-thin region 10d is not necessarily required to be a continuous linear region. That is, as described above, it may be a discontinuous form including a discontinuous portion as a part.

(manufacturing, evaluation)

Further, the capsule CA-2 described as the second embodiment is manufactured and evaluated, and will be described here.

The capsule CA-2 was prepared by using distilled water as a liquid enclosed in a capsule, and the breaking strength was measured. Capsule CA-2 is produced by injection molding using low-density polystyrene of a plastic material for food. 90% (v/v) of distilled water was injected into the space inside the capsule CA-2, and the open end was heat-sealed by a laminate film of polyamide/low density polyethylene (KIMURA-TEC, NY/LDPE, 60 μm). A capsule that is completely sealed and contains distilled water is obtained.

The burst strength of the capsule was measured by a creep meter (RHEOMETER II, manufactured by Sanden Electric Co., Ltd.). The measurement conditions and measurement results are shown in Fig. 8.

The same capsule CA-2 was produced so that the direction in which the external force was applied was different. Experiment A is a case where an external force is applied to the side wall formed by the thin-walled region 10c, and the external force of the experiment B is applied in parallel to the thin-walled region 10c, that is, corresponding to the case of the present invention.

Compared to Experiment A, the breaking load of the capsule was 95.6 N, and in Experiment B, it was 29.6 N. The force required for the damage was confirmed to be quite small.

Further, in the second embodiment, a preferred modification will be described with reference to Fig. 9.

The capsule CA-2 shown in Figs. 5A and 5B has a cylindrical shape, and when the linear main thin-walled region 10c is provided on the side wall 10, it is placed in an upright state.

However, the capsule CA-2 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be, for example, a capsule CA-3 of a prismatic column (here, a square column (cuboid)) as shown in Fig. 9. By making it a corner post, the posture in the accommodation space 204 can be stabilized. At this time, the thin-walled region 10c is formed on the four side walls. If such a capsule CA-3 is disposed in the storage space 204 On the other hand, the axial direction is parallel to the side wall, and the front and rear left and right side walls are not limited thereto. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, the corner portion may be placed in the accommodating space 204 in an upright state.

Further, in order to stabilize the position of each of the capsules CA (CA-1, CA-2, CA-3) more reliably, it is also possible to fill the storage space 204 with fibers or the like for the filter element as needed. Clearance to prevent positional deviation. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a convex portion for positioning is attached to the inner surface of the casing 201, and the convex portion presses the capsule CA from the periphery to perform positioning or the like. As described above, when the position of the capsule CA is stabilized, one or both of the first filter portion and the second filter portion are not necessarily required. In this regard, in the above embodiment, the space formed between the first filter portion and the second filter portion is used as the storage space inside the filter body. However, this is only a preferred example, and the form of the storage space is not limited to this.

The user (smoker) is described as an action of smoking the above-mentioned cigarette CG with a filter. As shown by the arrow F in Fig. 1A, the user grips the central portion of the filter FL with a finger, and after applying an external force to crush it, the casing 201 of the filter FL and the capsule CA-1 inside thereof are elastically deformed. Since the capsule CA-1 is set to be easily broken, it can be easily broken, and the liquid flows out and is absorbed by the filter.

Thereafter, the user ignites the cigarette CG with the filter and smokes. By the above liquid, the water-soluble component contained in the smoke stream from the cigarette can be reduced, and the aromatic inhalation taste can be improved by the added flavor.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

In the above embodiment, the case where the capsule-mounted filter of the present invention is applied to a cigarette to which a filter is attached has been described. However, the capsule-mounted filter of the present invention is not limited to the case of the filter attached to the cigarette as described above. also That is, it can also be configured as a separate filter product.

100‧‧‧ cigarette body

101‧‧‧ outer paper

201‧‧‧ housing

202‧‧‧1st filter section

203‧‧‧Second filter section

204‧‧‧Storage space

FL-1‧‧‧Filter

CA-1‧‧‧ capsules

CG‧‧ ‧ Cigarette

Claims (7)

A filter equipped with a capsule, comprising: a side wall having a side surface constituting a cylindrical shape; and a pair of end walls respectively sealing the front and rear openings of the cylindrical shape, and sealing a liquid inside the capsule, and at least the above The side wall is elastically deformable, and the side wall is provided with at least one loop-shaped main thin-walled region provided along the outer circumferential direction or at least one linear main thin-walled region disposed along an axial direction perpendicular to the outer circumferential direction; The substantially cylindrical filter body portion is formed by including a housing space for accommodating the capsule, wherein the loop-shaped main thin-wall region or the linear main thin-wall region extends in a direction of the filter body The capsules are housed in the storage space such that the radial directions of the portions are parallel. The capsule-mounted filter according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the capsule is formed in a straight line in a direction perpendicular to the main thin-walled region when the loop-shaped main thin-wall region is formed. In the sub-thin region, or in the case where the linear main thin-walled region is formed, a ring-shaped sub-thin region formed in a direction perpendicular to the main thin-wall region is provided. The filter-equipped filter according to the first or second aspect of the invention, wherein the loop-shaped main thin-walled region, the linear sub-thin region, the linear main thin-wall region, and the loop line The sub-thin wall region is formed as a continuous region or a discontinuous region containing discontinuous portions. The capsule-mounted filter according to any one of the first to third aspect, wherein the loop-shaped main thin-walled region, the linear sub-thin region, and the linear main thin wall The area and the ring-shaped sub-thin wall area are formed The thin part of his area. The capsule-mounted filter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the casing covering the filter body portion is waterproof. The capsule-mounted filter according to any one of the first to fifth aspect, wherein the capsule body portion covering the filter body portion is provided when the linear main thin-wall region is provided in the capsule It is formed by the transparent sheet material which can confirm the said accommodation space with the eye. A smoking article comprising a capsule-mounted filter according to any one of claims 1 to 6.