US1983530A

US1983530A - Tissue for cigarettes

Info

Publication number: US1983530A
Application number: US607360A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brandenberger Jacques Edwin
Original assignee: Du Pont Cellophane Co Inc
Current assignee: Du Pont Cellophane Co Inc
Priority date: 1932-04-25
Filing date: 1932-04-25
Publication date: 1934-12-11
Anticipated expiration: 1951-12-11

Description

Dec. 11, 1934.

J. E. BRANDENBYERGER TISSUE FOR CIGARETTES- Filed April 25, 1932 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES TISSUE FOR CIGARETTES Jacques Edwin Brandenberger, Neuilly-sur-Seine,

France, assignor to Du Pont Cellophane Company, Inc., New York, N. Y.,

Delaware a corporation of Application April 25, 1932, Serial No. 607,360

4 Claims.

This invention relatesto cigarettes and more particularly to the tissue in which tobacco is wrapped to form a cigarette.

Recently, there has been devised a process for producing sheets or films of regenerated cellulose having a thickness of .less than 0.02 mm.,

for example 0.01 mm., (see copending application- Serial No. 607,492, filed April 25, 1932).

The instant invention has for an object the use of these thin sheets or films of regenerated cellulose as a tissue in which tobacco is wrapped to form cigarettes.

Other objects will appear from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cigarette prepared in accordance with the principles of the instant invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein there is illustrated a cigarette produced in any wellknown manner, the reference numeral 1 designates a tube formed of the thin variety of sheets or films of regenerated cellulose in which the tobacco 2 is disposed. If desired, a tip or mouthpiece 3 formed of cork or other suitable material may be provided on the cigarette, as illustrated in the drawing.

The tube is, as has been previously stated, formed from a sheet or film of regenerated cellu- 30 lose having a thickness less than 0.02 mm., and

preferably 0.01 mm. The sheets or films of regenerated cellulose are prepared as set forth in copending application Serial No. 607,492.

In the method most extensively utilized in the manufacture of sheets or films of regenerated cellulose, the purified film before passing into the drier is impregnated with a softener, such as glycerin, by passage through an aqueous bath containing the softener. When such a sheet is 40 employed in the manufacture of cigarettes, an undesirable sweet taste results and the smoke has a distinct odor and disagreeable taste. In order to avoid these defects, the instant invention contemplates employing a film of regenerated cellu- 45 lose which is free from any added softener, such as glycerin, glycol or the like.

When a thin film or sheet of regenerated cellulose containing no softener, such as glycerin, is employed, it is found that the film is extremely 50 fragile and tender with the result that it cannot successfully withstand the mechanical operations to which it is subjected in the cigarette making machines. To avoid this serious defect, I have found that, subjected to a strong humidifying treatment, an

if the film free of softener is' elastic product is obtained which is perfectly adapted to all mechanical operations.

In the preferred form of the instant invention, the moisture is supplied to the film at the outlet of the drier of the machines which are 5 employed in directly preparing the film in a pure state. According to this procedure, a thin sheet or film of regenerated cellulose is prepared by casting the cellulosic solution, such as a viscose solution; in a coagulating bath and regenerat- 10 ing the coagulated film. The regenerated film is then subjected to the well-known purifying operations and passed through the drier which is usually of the roller type. Since it is desired that the product should not contain any 15 softener, such as glycerin, the usual glycerin bath is omitted. As the film issues from the drier, it is exposed for a suflicient length of time to the action of moisture or a very humid atmosphere, this action being regulated so that the entire mass 0 of the film absorbs the desired amount of moisture.

An atmosphere of suitable hygroscopic degree can, for example, be produced in a closed tank with the aid of an aqueous solution of suitable concentration and containing a substance, such as potassium carbonate or glycerin. Alternatively, the requisite moisture content of the film may be secured by superdrying the film and then conditioning the film under controlled conditions, as set forth in copending application Serial No. 593,- 416, filed February 16, 1932.

In actual practice, it has been found that, if the film contains at least 10 parts of moisture to 90 parts of cellulose, the film will successfully withstand the necessary mechanical operations.

The invention is not restricted to the process immediately above described. According to the principles of this invention, a sheet or film of regenerated cellulose less than 0.02 mm. in thickness and containing a softener, such as glycerin, may be prepared. Such a film is then subjected to an appropriate treatment, such' as a washing treatment, whereby the softener is substantially eliminated from the film. The film is then dried and finally subjected to the conditioning treatment previously described.

The thin regenerated cellulose film may be subjected to various operations, such as embossing, dyeing, ornamentation or the like, prior or during the cigarette forming steps. If desired, a substance which increases or facilitates combustion, such as small quantities of an alkali nitrate or chlorate, may be incorporated in the film.

A cigarette prepared in accordance with the instant invention is of the same weight as that in which the usual cigarette papers are employed. In addition, by virtue of the transparency of the regenerated cellulose, the tobacco is visible, with the result'that the smoker may at a glance immediately perceive the color and hence the quality of the tobacco. Moreover, in view of the fact that sheets or of regenerated cellulose are non-porous, the cigarette possesses a great mechanicalsolidity.

Since it is obvious that various changes andmodifications may be made in the above description without departing from the nature and spirit thereof, this invention is not restricted thereto except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. A tissue in which tobacco is wrapped to form a cigarette comprising a transparent sheet or film of regenerated cellulose less than 0.02 mm. in thickness and free of softener.

2. A tissue in which tobacco is wrapped to form a cigarette comprising a transparent sheet or film o1 regenerated cellulose less than 0.02 mm. in thickness, free of softener, and' containing at least 1 part by weightvof moisture to 9 parts by 5 weight of cellulose. 3. A cigarette comprising a tobacco filler wrapped in a tube formed of a transparent sheet or film of regenerated cellulose less than 0.02 mm.

in thickness and free of softener.

4. A cigarette comprising a tobacco filler wrapped in a tube formed of a transparent sheet or film of regenerated cellulose less than 0.02 mm. in thickness, free of softener,iand containing at least 1 part by weight of moisture to 9 parts by weight of cellulose.

JACQUES EDWIN BRANDENBERGER;