TWI446877B - Multi-component filter for a smoking article - Google Patents

Description

Multi-component filter for cigarette products

The present invention relates to a multi-component filter for use in a smoking article, and a smoking article comprising such a multi-component filter.

Filter cigarettes typically comprise a tobacco cut filler rod surrounded by a wrapper and a cylindrical filter aligned end-to-end with the packaged tobacco rod and the attached tipping paper. Ventilation is typically performed in a perforated manner along the location of the filter to facilitate mixing with the generated mainstream smoke during combustion of the packaged tobacco rod and ambient air.

In conventional filter cigarettes, the filter is typically constructed of a cellulose acetate tow plug packaged in a porous filter paper. However, filter cigarettes having multi-component filters are known which have two or more sections of filter material for removing particulate and gaseous components of the mainstream smoke. In order to increase the aroma of mainstream smoke, it is known to provide a filter cigarette having a filter comprising a flavoring material. In particular, research has advocated the inclusion of flavorings from plant material (such as leaves, seeds or roots) from one or more aromatic plants. In a known example, a filter cigarette having a multi-component filter having a flavour release section containing a mixture of plant material is provided, and the plant material comprises licorice plant material, ginger root and minced mint leaves.

It would be desirable to provide a multi-component filter for use in a smoking article that provides improved flavor enhancement during use, particularly when mainstream smoke is inhaled by a consumer through a filter through a smokable material rod. Mint and menthol flavors of mainstream smoke. In addition, I hope to provide a kind of A multi-component filter for a smoking article comprising a flavor-releasing section that minimizes the loss of flavor during storage.

According to the present invention, there is provided a multi-component filter for a smoking article comprising: a mouth end section and a flavour release section upstream of the mouth end section, wherein the flavour release section comprises plant leaves and filter plasticization Agent.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a cigarette article comprising a packaged smokable material rod and a multi-component filter of the present invention, the multi-component filter member being attached to a smokable material rod, preferably by tipping paper Attached. Such a cigarette product is preferably a filter cigarette.

Throughout the specification, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used to describe the relative multi-component filter segments of the present invention when used in relation to the passage of mainstream smoke through a multi-component filter via a smokable material rod. position. For example, in the filter of the present invention, the flavour release section is upstream of the mouth end section, which means that mainstream smoke is first drawn in by the flavour release section and then through the mouth end section.

The term "filter plasticizer" refers to any plasticizer suitable for use as a conventional fiber cigarette filter plug. In conventional fiber filter plugs, the role of the filter plasticizer is to bond the fiber plugs together, increasing the rigidity of the fiber plug and its resistance to compression. The plasticizer is usually a solvent for the fibrous material and softens the outer surface of the fiber so that the fibers stick to each other. Triacetin is often used as a filter plasticizer for cellulose acetate tow.

The filter plasticizer used in the present invention is preferably triacetin.

The term "plant leaf" is used to denote a material composed of plant leaves which is preferably cut or chopped to provide a particulate material.

The aroma release section can include any plant leaf that is capable of releasing the fragrance into the mainstream smoke drawn through the multi-component filter. Such plant leaves are preferably non-tobacco plant leaves. The aroma release section can include leaves from one or more plants. In a preferred embodiment, the fragrance released by the foliage of the plant is produced from a volatile compound contained therein, such as oil, which volatilizes upon smoking. Mainstream smoke enriched with volatile oil from plant leaves will flow downstream, passing through the mouth end section of the multi-component filter into the consumer's mouth.

The volatile oil will remain in the leaves of the plant before smoking. This will help to ensure that the loss of flavour during storage of the multi-component filter and the smoking article of the present invention is minimized, thereby maximizing the fragrance released to mainstream smoke during smoking.

The plant leaves in the aroma release section are preferably mashed, cut or otherwise reduced in size. More preferably, the plant blade has a cut width of between about 0.25 mm and about 3 mm. Most preferably, the plant blade has a cut width of between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.

Preferably, the plant leaves are dried to a moisture content of between about 8% and about 10%.

The plant leaves in the flavour release section preferably comprise herbal leaves.

The word "herbal leaf" is used to mean leaves from herbs. A "herbaceous plant" is an aromatic plant without woody tissue whose leaves are used for medical, cooking or aroma purposes and which can be released into mainstream smoke drawn through a multi-component filter. The fragrance release section may comprise from one or Herb leaves of various perennial or annual herbs. For example, the flavour release section may comprise, but is not limited to, mint, lemon balm, cinnamon barley, lemon basil, scallions, scallions, basil, lavender, sage, tea, thyme and carvi .

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the plant leaves in the flavour release section comprise mint leaves. The oil content of the mint leaves is preferably at least about 0.6% by weight. The inclusion of mint leaves in the aroma-releasing section of the multi-component filter of the present invention will facilitate an improved means of delivering the mint and menthol flavor to the mainstream smoke of the smoking article. The mint-containing multi-component filter cigarette article of the present invention can be advantageously provided with a stronger mint and menthol flavor than conventional menthol cigarettes.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the plant leaves in the flavour release section are mint leaves and the filter plasticizer is triacetin. Surprisingly, it has been found that the inclusion of mint leaves and triacetin in the flavor release section of the multi-component filter and cigarette article of the present invention will help to increase the production of menthol and other volatile oils released from the mint leaves. Mint and menthol scent. This will be explained by the results shown in Table 1 below.

Table 1 shows the amount of special aroma compounds released into the mainstream smoke by the mint leaves in the flavor release section of the filter cigarettes (samples 1 and 3) of the present invention having the general structure shown in Fig. 1. The flavour release section is composed of a cellulose acetate tow plug having mint leaves and triacetin distributed therein. Table 1 also shows the flavor release section which is a filter cigarette (samples 2 and 4) having the same structure as Samples 1 and 3 but not according to the present invention and in which the flavor release section does not contain triacetin. The amount of aroma compounds released by the mint leaves. Each sample contains 40 mg Mint leaf. Not all compounds released from the mint leaves are measured.

Each sample was taken under ISO conditions, and the obtained flue gas extract was analyzed by GC-MS single ion monitoring to determine the content of volatile compounds in the flue gas. For full scan analysis, the scan range is from 30 to 400 m/z (anionic mass to charge ratio).

As can be seen from Table 1, triacetin and mint leaves are used in combination in the flavour release section of the filter cigarette of the present invention as compared to the non-inventive filter cigarette in which the flavour release section does not contain triacetin. It can increase the content of aroma compounds released from the mint leaves to the mainstream smoke during smoking.

In the case of smoking a cigarette product containing the multi-component filter of the present invention, the filter plasticizer is triacetin, and the hydrolysis reaction of triacetin causes the acetic acid and glycerin in the fragrance release section of the filter to be released. . Therefore, the amount of acetic acid released in the filter during smoking is significantly higher than that of non-compliance. The cigarette product of the present invention is shown as the results in Table 2 below. The size and properties of the filter cigarette of the present invention (Sample 5) having the structure shown in Fig. 1 are listed in Table 2. The mouth end section of the filter cigarette is composed of a cellulose acetate tow plug, and the flavor release area is composed of a cellulose acetate tow plug having mint leaves and triacetin distributed therein. The size and nature of the filter cigarette (Sample 6), which has the same structure as Sample 5 but which is not in accordance with the present invention and in which the flavor release section does not contain triacetin, is also listed in Table 2.

As can be seen from Table 2, the scent of the multi-component filter of the filter cigarette (sample 5) of the present invention is compared with the non-inventive filter cigarette (sample 6) containing only triacetin in the mouth end section. The combination of triacetin and mint leaves in the release section significantly increases the amount of acetic acid released in the filter.

The total length of the smoking article of the present invention is preferably between about 70 mm and about 128 mm, more preferably about 84 mm.

The outer diameter of the multi-component filter and cigarette article of the present invention is preferably about Between 5 mm and 8.5 mm, more preferably about 7.9 mm.

The total length of the multi-component filter of the present invention is preferably between about 18 mm and about 36 mm, more preferably about 27 mm.

The length of each individual section of the multi-component filter of the present invention is preferably between about 5 mm and about 22 mm.

In certain embodiments, the mouth end section of the multi-component filter of the present invention can prevent plant leaves from reaching the mouth of the consumer by the aroma release section during smoking. The mouth end section preferably contains a filter material. More preferably, the mouth end section contains a filter material that is substantially free of particulate phase filtration efficiency or very low particulate phase filtration efficiency. For example, the mouth end section can comprise a cellulosic material, such as a cellulose acetate tow, or other fiber filtration material suitable for low filtration efficiency.

When the mouth end section comprises filter material, the length of the mouth end section is preferably between about 3 mm and about 12 mm, more preferably between about 6 mm and about 8 mm.

The multi-component filter of the present invention may also include a rod end section upstream of the flavor release section. The rod end section preferably comprises a fibrous filter material. For example, the rod end section can comprise a cellulosic material, such as a cellulose acetate tow, or other suitable fibrous filter material, such as paper. The filter material contained in the rod end section will be utilized to provide additional filtration efficiency.

Alternatively or additionally, the rod end section may comprise at least one absorbent capable of removing at least one gas phase component from mainstream smoke drawn through the filter. Preferably, the at least one absorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, activated alumina, zeolite, sepiolite, molecular sieves, and ruthenium gel.

The rod end section may comprise one or more flavorings, preferably one or more liquids Aromas to further enhance the aroma delivered to consumers during smoking.

For example, the rod end section can comprise a cylindrical plug of filter material comprising one or more wires impregnated with a liquid flavor. The one or more wires may be made of cellulose acetate yarn, crepe, cotton or any other hydrophilic woven or non-woven material capable of absorbing or adsorbing liquid flavor. These lines may be colored, for example, to indicate the flavoring material that is impregnated therein. If more than one line is provided, the lines may have the same or different colors and may be impregnated with the same or different liquid flavors. These wires preferably have a diameter of between about 0.6 mm and about 2.0 mm and a diameter of more preferably about 0.8 mm. A filter plug comprising a line with a flavoring material suitable for use in a rod end section of a multi-component filter of the present invention, and a method and apparatus for making such a filter plug, are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,281,671 and 7,074,170. These are available from Filtrona, Inc., of Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Alternatively, the rod end section may comprise a plurality of beads impregnated with a liquid flavor. These beads may be formed, for example, of a cellulosic material bonded with a polyvinyl acetate binder or by a fumed tobacco bonded with microcrystalline cellulose. The bead of the end section of the multi-component filter suitable for use in the present invention is a product manufactured and sold by the Japanese company Rengo, and its name is Viscopearl. . A method and apparatus for manufacturing such a bead are also described in Japanese Patent Application No. 10182842. These beads can have the same or different diameters and colors. For example, the color of the beads can show the type of flavoring they are impregnated with. The diameter of the beads is preferably between about 0.2 mm and about 2 mm.

The liquid flavoring agent used in the rod end section of the multi-component filter of the present invention may include one or more flavoring ingredients to create a particular flavor profile. And it can be a natural extract, a synthetic fragrance or a combination thereof. Liquid flavors and flavors that may be included in the rod end section of the multi-component filter of the present invention may include, but are not limited to, menthol, mint, spearmint, coffee, tea, spices (such as cinnamon, cloves, and Ginger), cocoa, vanilla and fruit flavorings. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plant leaves in the aroma release section are mint leaves, and the rod end section of the multi-component filter preferably comprises a liquid menthol flavor. In these embodiments, the menthol flavor supplied to the rod end section promotes the release into the mainstream smoke, while the mainstream smoke is drawn through the filter during smoking and is released by the fragrance. The mint leaves provide a menthol and mint flavor that is released into the downstream mainstream smoke.

The mouth end section may comprise at least one flavoring material, such as the flavorings previously mentioned for the rod end section. If it is a fragrance, the mouth end section preferably comprises one or more filaments impregnated with a liquid fragrance.

The multi-component filter of the present invention may comprise a mouth end section containing at least one flavoring material, or a rod end section containing at least one flavoring agent, or a mouth end section containing at least one flavoring material and containing at least one flavoring material Rod end section. When the mouth end section and the rod end section contain at least one flavoring, the at least one flavoring in the mouth end section may be the same or different than the at least one flavoring in the rod end section.

In use, when mainstream smoke is drawn through the multi-component filter by the smokable material rod, the fragrance will be released into the mainstream smoke by the plant leaves in the fragrance release section. In a particular embodiment of the invention, at least one flavoring material is present in the rod end section and the fragrance is also released upstream of the flavor releasing section as previously described above. In a specific embodiment of the invention, at least one of The flavoring agent may alternatively or additionally be added to the mouth end section and the fragrance will also be released downstream of the flavor releasing section. Therefore, the multi-component filter of the present invention can enhance the fragrance of the mainstream smoke drawn into the filter by two or three times during the smoking process.

The multi-component filter of the present invention can be produced by forming individual continuous thin rods comprising multiple units of each individual section of a multi-component filter, and then these individual thin rods are then known in a known manner Combined in one or more stages to form a continuous filter rod comprising multiple units of multi-component filters. The continuous filter rod is then cut into segments at a fixed spacing by a cutting mechanism to produce a series of separate multi-component filters of the present invention.

Preferably, the smoking article of the present invention comprises a packaged fine cut tobacco rod.

Preferably, the smoking article of the present invention has a dry particulate material (NFDPM) that is completely free of nicotine or a "tar" release of up to about 10 mg. The "tar release amount" is preferably between 1 mg and 10 mg, and more preferably about 6 mg.

The smoking article of the present invention may be packaged in a container, such as a soft or hard case, with an inner liner coated with one or more flavorings.

In a first aspect of the invention, the plant leaves in the flavour release section are dispersed in a fibrous filter material plug, preferably a cellulose acetate tow. It is applied to the fibrous filter material by conventional means of spraying the filter plasticizer onto the individual fibers, preferably prior to applying the plant leaves to the filter material.

Preferably, the plant leaves are substantially evenly distributed along the length of the fibrous filter material plug. For a straight line between about 7.5 mm and about 7.8 mm For multi-component filters of the diameter, the mint leaf content per millimeter of flavor release section is preferably between about 1 milligram and about 4 milligrams.

The filter plasticizer may be present in an amount between 1% and 9% by weight of the fibrous filter material plug, preferably 5% or less by weight of the fibrous filter material plug. If triacetin is used as the filter plasticizer, the amount of triacetin is preferably 5% by weight of the cellulose acetate tow or other fibrous filter material. Such triacetin levels have been found to provide satisfactory stiffness of the fibrous filter material plug of the flavor release section without hindering the release of flavor from the mint leaves. It is significantly lower than the triacetin content of conventional cellulose acetate tow filter plugs, which are typically at a level of about 7% by weight.

In the cigarette article of the first aspect of the invention, the length of the aroma segment is preferably between about 5 mm and about 22 mm, more preferably between about 10 mm and about 15 mm, and the length is preferably about 12 mm.

In the smoking article of the first aspect of the invention, the mouth end section may comprise a hollow tube or recess. The hollow tube or recess can be formed when the multi-component filter is attached to the smokable material rod by tipping paper to form the smoking article of the present invention. In such a smoking article, the downstream end of the aroma-releasing section can be seen at the mouth end of the multi-component filter via a hollow tube or recess, the consumer being able to see the plant leaves dispersed in the plug of fibrous filter material. When the mouth end section comprises a hollow tube or recess, the length of the mouth end section is preferably between about 3 mm and about 4 mm.

In a second aspect of the invention, the flavour release section comprises a plant leaf plug (preferably a compressed plant leaf) coated with a filter plasticizer. Such plant blade plugs are preferably free of any other materials. The filter plasticizer can be applied before or after the formation of the plant leaf plug.

The amount of filter plasticizer is preferably between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight of the plant leaf. If the flavour release section comprises a mint leaf plug coated with triacetin, the amount of triacetin is preferably between about 0.5% and about 1.5% by weight of the mint leaf. The demand for triacetin in such cigarette products is much lower than that of cigarette products in which the mint leaves are distributed in the fibrous filter plug, because triacetin is only used to increase the fragrance, not to make the filter The plug becomes hard.

In the cigarette article of the second aspect of the invention, in order to prevent the mint leaf from being lost by the filter, the mouth end section preferably contains a fibrous filter material.

In the smoking article of the second aspect of the invention, the length of the flavor releasing section is preferably between about 3 mm and about 12 mm.

In a third aspect of the invention, the multi-component filter of the present invention further comprises a second flavour release section between the mouth end section and the previously described flavour release section. The inclusion of the second flavour release section also enhances the aroma delivered to the consumer during smoking.

The second flavour release section preferably contains tobacco leaves. Tobacco leaves can be crushed, cut or otherwise reduced in size. The tobacco leaf is preferably cut finely, and the preferred tobacco leaf has a cut width of 0.4 mm.

Preferably, the tobacco leaves in the second flavour release section are dried. The moisture content of the tobacco leaves is preferably about 15% by weight or less.

The length of the second flavour release section is preferably between about 6 mm and about 12 mm, more preferably between about 6 mm and about 10 mm.

The second flavour release section can include tobacco leaves containing, for example, sugar or humectant applied thereto.

The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawings and by way of embodiments.

The filter cigarettes shown in Figures 1 through 9 have several common components, and these components have been coded with the same reference code. In each side view, the sections have been separated to illustrate the internal details of the multi-component filter.

Each of the filter cigarettes will typically comprise an elongate cylindrical packaged tobacco rod 2 attached at one end to an axially aligned and elongated cylindrical multi-component filter 4. The packaged tobacco rod 2 and the multi-component filter 4 are connected together by a tipping paper 6 in a conventional manner, which encases the full length of the multi-component filter and the arrival of the packaged tobacco rod 2 Connected to the part. During the combustion of the packaged tobacco rod 2 and the surrounding air, in order to pass the generated mainstream smoke flow, a plurality of annular perforations 8 are produced by penetrating the tipping paper at a position along the multi-component filter 4.

The multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 10 of the first embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 1 comprises two end-to-end abutting sections: a mouth end section 12 which is remote from the packaged cut tobacco Rod 2; and a fragrance release section 14 that is upstream of the mouth end section 12 and abuts and abuts the packaged tobacco rod 2. The mouth end section 12 contains a low filtration efficiency cellulose acetate tow plug that has been plasticized with triacetin. The flavor release section 14 comprises a cellulose acetate tow plug having dried mint leaves, wherein the mint leaves have a cut width of between 1 mm and 2 mm and are substantially uniformly distributed in the cellulose acetate tow plug. The cellulose acetate tow plug contains 5% by weight of a triacetin plasticizer.

In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the mouth end section 12 of the multi-component filter 4 shown in Fig. 1 is replaced by a recess formed by the tipping paper 6, which is substantially No filtering efficiency.

The multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 20 as shown in Fig. 2 has a structure similar to the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 10 as shown in Fig. 1 above. However, the mouth end section 12 of the filter cigarette 20 shown in Fig. 2 further comprises a central cotton thread 22 loaded with menthol which extends axially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 20. Cellulose acetate tow plug.

The filter cigarette 30 shown in Fig. 3 has a multi-component filter 4 comprising three end-to-end abutting sections: a mouth end section 12 which is remote from the packaged tobacco rod 2; a fragrance release zone Section 14 is located upstream of the mouth end section 12; and a rod end section 32 is located upstream of the fragrance release section 14 and abuts and abuts the packaged tobacco rod 2. The mouth end section 12 and the aroma release section 14 have the same structure as described previously in the filter cigarette 10 shown in FIG.

The rod end section 32 contains a medium to high filtration efficiency cellulose acetate tow plug that, when used, partially filters out particulate phase components in the mainstream smoke.

The multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 40 as shown in Fig. 4 has a structure similar to the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 30 as shown in Fig. 3 above. However, the mouth end section 12 of the filter cigarette 40 shown in Fig. 4 further comprises a central cotton thread 22 loaded with menthol which extends axially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 40. Cellulose acetate tow plug.

The multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 50 as shown in Fig. 5 also has a structure similar to the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 30 as shown in Fig. 3 above. However, the rod end section 32 of the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 50 shown in Fig. 5 contains a central cotton line 52 loaded with menthol, which is flat In the direction of the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 50, it extends axially through the cellulose acetate tow plug.

The multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 60 as shown in Fig. 6 is also of a structure having a multi-component filter 4 similar to the filter cigarette 30 as shown in Fig. 3 above. However, the rod end section 32 and the mouth end section 4 of the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 60 shown in Fig. 6 simultaneously contain central cotton threads 22, 52 loaded with menthol, which are parallel to the filter. The longitudinal direction of the cigarette 60 extends axially through the cellulose acetate tow plug.

In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the rod end sections 32 of the multi-component filter of the filter cigarettes 40, 50, 60 shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 further comprise At least one absorbent capable of removing gas phase components in the mainstream smoke drawn through the filter 4. The at least one absorbent is, for example, activated carbon, activated alumina, zeolite or sepiolite placed on top of the cellulose acetate tow.

The multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 70 as shown in Fig. 7 has a structure similar to the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 50 as shown in Fig. 5 above. However, the rod end section 32 of the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 70 shown in Fig. 7 contains a plurality of Viscopearls loaded with menthol It is used to replace the central cotton line 52.

In other embodiments of the invention (not shown), the mouth end section 12 of the multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 shown in Figures 3 to 7 It is replaced by a recess formed by the tipping paper 6, which has substantially no filtering efficiency.

The filter cigarette 80 as shown in Fig. 8 has a structure of a multi-component filter 4 similar to the filter cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60 shown in Figs. , comprising three end-to-end abutting sections: a mouth end section 12 remote from the packaged tobacco rod 2; a flavour release section 14 located upstream of the mouth end section 12; and a rod end zone Segment 32, which is located upstream of the fragrance release section 14 and abuts and abuts the packaged tobacco rod 2. The mouth end section 12 and the aroma release section 14 have the same structure as described previously in the filter cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60 shown in Figures 3-6. The flavor release section 14 comprises a finely cut mint leaf plug that is coated with triacetin and compressed, rather than a cellulose acetate tow plug in which mint is distributed. The amount of triacetin is between about 0.5% and 1.5% by weight of the mint leaves.

The mouth end section 12 and the rod end section 42 of the filter cigarette 80 shown in Fig. 8 may be either one or both containing a flavoring material, as previously described for the filter cigarette 30 shown in Figures 3-6. 40, 50, 60.

The filter cigarette 90 shown in Fig. 9 has a multi-component filter 4 comprising four end-to-end abutting sections: a mouth end section 12 which is remote from the packaged tobacco rod 2; the first fragrance a release section 92 located upstream of the mouth end section; a second flavour release section 14 located upstream of the first flavour release section; and a rod end section 32 positioned in the second flavour release zone The section 14 is upstream and abuts and abuts the packaged tobacco rod 2. The mouth end section 12, the second flavour release section 14 and the rod end section 32 have mouth end regions as described in the filter cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 previously shown in Figures 3-7. The same structure of the segment, the aroma release section and the rod end section. The first flavor release section 92 comprises a densely stacked fine cut tobacco plug.

To form the filter cigarettes 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 of the specific embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 9, the multi-component filter 4 is first formed, and then The packaged tobacco rod 2 manufactured in the traditional way That is, it is joined by the tipping paper 6 using a known filter cigarette manufacturing apparatus.

In order to manufacture each of the multi-component filters 4, a plurality of continuous rods of various units comprising each of the sections 12, 14, 32, 92 of the multi-component filter 4 are produced in a known manner, and then combined to form a plurality of A continuous filter rod of multiple units of the component filter 4. The continuous filter rod is then cut into segments at a fixed spacing by a cutting mechanism to produce a series of separate multi-component filters.

2‧‧‧ tobacco rod

4‧‧‧Multi-component filter

6‧‧‧Tipping paper

8‧‧‧Circular perforation

10‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

12‧‧‧ mouth section

14‧‧‧Second fragrance release section

20‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

22‧‧‧Central cotton thread

30‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

32‧‧‧ rod end section

40‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

42‧‧‧ rod end section

50‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

52‧‧‧Central cotton thread

60‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

70‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

80‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

90‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

92‧‧‧First fragrance release section

1 to 3 are respectively side views showing three types of filter cigarettes including the multi-component filter of the first, second and third embodiments of the first aspect of the invention; FIGS. 4 to 7 are respectively shown to contain the present invention A schematic longitudinal sectional view of four filter cigarettes of the multi-component filter of the fourth to seventh embodiments of the first aspect; and FIG. 8 shows a filter of the multi-component filter including the specific embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention A side view of the cigarette; and a ninth drawing showing a side view of a filter cigarette comprising a multi-component filter of a specific embodiment of the third aspect of the invention.

2‧‧‧ tobacco rod

4‧‧‧Multi-component filter

6‧‧‧Tipping paper

8‧‧‧Circular perforation

10‧‧‧ Filter cigarette

12‧‧‧ mouth section

14‧‧‧Second fragrance release section

Claims (10)

A multi-component filter (4) for a smoking article comprising: a mouth end section (12); and a flavour release section (14) upstream of the mouth end section (12), wherein the flavour release section (14) a filter material plug comprising a mint leaf dispersed in the fibrous filter material and a filter plasticizer sprayed on the fiber filter material, wherein the amount of the filter plasticizer in the flavor release section is at most 5 of the weight of the fibrous filter material %. The multi-component filter (4) of claim 1, wherein the filter plasticizer is triacetin. The multi-component filter (4) of claim 2, wherein the amount of triacetin is from 0.5% to 1.5% by weight of the mint leaves. The multi-component filter (4) of claim 1, wherein the flavor release section (14) comprises a cellulose acetate tow plug in which the plant leaves are distributed. The multi-component filter (4) of claim 1 further comprising a rod end section (32) upstream of the fragrance release section (14). The multi-component filter of claim 1, further comprising a second flavour release section between the mouth end section and the flavour release section. The multi-component filter (4) of claim 1, wherein the mouth end section (12) comprises a filter material. The multi-component filter (4) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mouth end section (12) comprises at least one liquid fragrance. A cigarette article comprising: a packaged smokable material rod; and a multi-component filter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is attached to the smokable material rod by tipping paper. The smoking article of claim 9, wherein the mouth end section of the multi-component filter is a hollow tube or a recess.