WO2017198995A1 - Bâtonnet-filtre ayant un revêtement ondulé, appareil et procédé de fabrication - Google Patents

Bâtonnet-filtre ayant un revêtement ondulé, appareil et procédé de fabrication Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017198995A1
WO2017198995A1 PCT/GB2017/051047 GB2017051047W WO2017198995A1 WO 2017198995 A1 WO2017198995 A1 WO 2017198995A1 GB 2017051047 W GB2017051047 W GB 2017051047W WO 2017198995 A1 WO2017198995 A1 WO 2017198995A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
filter
filter material
filter rod
duct
rod
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2017/051047
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Sam WHIFFEN
John Richardson
Original Assignee
British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited filed Critical British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited
Publication of WO2017198995A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017198995A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/0275—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters for filters with special features
    • A24D3/0279—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters for filters with special features with tubes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/0229—Filter rod forming processes
    • A24D3/0237—Filter rod forming processes by extrusion
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
    • A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
    • A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
    • A24D3/025—Final operations, i.e. after the filter rod forming process
    • A24D3/0258—Means for making grooves

Definitions

  • Apparatuses and methods for manufacture of filters rods for tobacco industry products, such as smoking articles comprise a continuous garniture belt that conveys filter tow material fed onto a continuous band of plug wrap though a tapering garniture duct or "tongue". Within the garniture tongue the garniture belt wraps the plug wrap around the filter tow material and compresses the material into a continuous cylindrical wrapped rod which can subsequently be cut to desired lengths.
  • grooved filter rods in which elongate grooves are formed on the outer surface of the filter rod extending in the axial direction of the filter.
  • Such grooves may be formed by applying a corrugated plug wrap around the filter so the plug wrap is impressed into the core of filter material, or by passing the wrapped filter rod though a subsequent groove-forming apparatus after it is expelled from the garniture tongue.
  • a filter rod for a tobacco industry product comprising an extruded body of filter material having an outer surface comprising a plurality of continuous grooves extending in an axial direction of the body, and a thermoplastic layer formed around the body and conforming to the grooved outer surface of the body so that an outermost surface of the filter rod comprises a plurality of continuous open grooves extending in an axial direction of the filter rod.
  • the thermoplastic layer may comprise polypropylene.
  • the body of filter material may comprise cellulose acetate tow which is hardened with a plasticiser to provide a stiffened body of filter material.
  • the continuous open grooves of the filter rod may be of uniform size and regularly spaced around the circumference of the filter rod.
  • the continuous open grooves of the filter rod may extend without interruption around the entire circumference of the filter rod.
  • the filter rod may include a hollow bore or may include a core of a second material within the extruded body of first filter material.
  • the thermoplastic layer may comprise an extruded thermoplastic layer.
  • the grooves in the filter rod may extend along the entire length of the filter rod.
  • a tobacco industry product comprising a tobacco rod and a filter formed from a filter rod as described above.
  • the filter may include a rotatable section, and a pawl engageable in the grooves of the filter rod to define discrete rotational positions of the rotatable section.
  • an apparatus for manufacturing a filter rod for use in production of a tobacco industry product comprising a duct having an inlet configured to receive filter material, and an outlet, the duct defining a passage which tapers along at least a part of its length between the inlet and the outlet to compress filter material as it is conveyed through the passage to form a continuous extruded body of filter material, a thermoplastic extrusion mechanism configured to extrude a layer of thermoplastic around the extruded body of filter material and in contact therewith to conform to the outer surface of the extruded body of filter material to produce a filter rod comprising a thermoplastic outermost layer, wherein the apparatus is configured to form grooves in the filter rod so that the filter rod comprises a continuous extruded body of filter material comprises a plurality of continuous groove
  • the inwardly projecting elements of the duct may be provided on an inside wall of the passage.
  • the duct may comprise a section in which the passage is of a uniform diameter over a length of the section, and the inwardly projecting elements of the duct may be provided on the section of passage that is of uniform diameter.
  • the duct may comprise a die and the inwardly projecting elements are formed on the die.
  • the die maybe detachable from the duct, or maybe permanently secured to, or formed integrally with the duct.
  • the inwardly projecting elements of the duct may be of a uniform size and are regularly spaced around the duct.
  • the extrusion mechanism may be configured to extrude a tubular sleeve of
  • thermoplastic around the entire circumference of the extruded body of filter material.
  • thermoplastic extrusion apparatus may comprise a manifold comprising an internal chamber having an inlet and an outlet aperture through which the
  • thermoplastic layer may be extruded.
  • the outlet aperture of the manifold may define a closed shape, and may be
  • the thermoplastic extrusion mechanism may include a heating apparatus configured to heat the thermoplastic material to be extruded.
  • the heating apparatus may comprise a heating element within the manifold.
  • thermoplastic extrusion mechanism may comprise a hole through which the extruded body of filter material is conveyed, and the outlet aperture may surround the hole.
  • An inner surface of the hole may include inwardly projecting elements to locate in grooves in the extruded body of filter material.
  • the inwardly-projecting elements of the hole may be aligned in a circumferential direction about the axis of the extruded body of filter material with the inwardly- projecting elements of the duct.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a cooling station configured to actively cool the thermoplastic layer.
  • the cooling station may comprise a liquid bath and/ or may comprise a nozzle for directing cooling fluid onto the filter rod.
  • the cooling station may comprise an aperture having a plurality of inwardly projecting elements configured to locate in the grooves in the filter rod.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a heating region configured to heat the extruded body of filter material to cure plasticiser entrained with the filter material.
  • the heating region may comprise a steam supply to heat and harden the filter material and plasticiser.
  • the apparatus may further comprise a cutting station configured to cut the continuous extruded filter rod into discrete filter rods having continuous open grooves on their outer surface.
  • a mandrel may be disposed at least partially within the duct such that filter material conveyed through the duct is compressed around the mandrel to form a tubular extruded body of filter material having a hollow bore, to produce a tubular filter rod.
  • a mandrel may be disposed at least partially within the duct, wherein the mandrel may be hollow and includes an internal passage extending though the mandrel through which a second filter material may be conveyed, and the passage may include an outlet at a distal end of the mandrel, and opening in an axial direction of the mandrel, though which the second filter material may be expelled, and the apparatus may be configured such that first filter material conveyed through the duct is compressed around the mandrel to form a tubular body of first filter material having a hollow bore, and second filter material fed though the internal passage of the mandrel is expelled out of the passage outlet to fill the bore of the tubular body of first filter material, to produce a filter rod comprising an outer core of first filter material with an inner core of second filter material.
  • a method of manufacturing a filter rod for use in production of a tobacco industry product comprising feeding filter material into an inlet of a duct, the duct defining a passage which tapers along at least a part of its length between the inlet and an outlet, conveying the filter material through the passage such that it is compressed into a continuous extruded body of filter material, extruding a layer of thermoplastic around the extruded body of filter material and in contact therewith and conforming to the outer surface of the extruded body of filter material to produce a filter rod comprising a thermoplastic outermost layer
  • the method comprises forming grooves in the filter rod so that the filter rod comprises a continuous extruded body of filter material comprises a plurality of continuous grooves extending in an axial direction of the body, and the outermost surface of the filter rod comprises a plurality of continuous open grooves extending in an axial direction of the filter rod.
  • the grooves may be formed in the outer surface of
  • the duct may comprise a die and the method may comprise forming the grooves by inwardly projecting elements formed on the die.
  • the method may comprise forming the grooves of a uniform size and regularly spaced around the filter rod.
  • the method may comprise extruding a tubular sleeve of thermoplastic around the entire circumference of the body of filter material.
  • the method may comprise extruding the thermoplastic layer from an outlet of an internal chamber of a manifold, wherein the outlet defines a closed shape.
  • the method may comprise extruding the thermoplastic layer from the outlet of the internal chamber of the manifold in a shape substantially corresponding to the cross- sectional outline of the grooved filter rod to be produced, by the outlet aperture of the manifold being shaped substantially corresponding to the cross-sectional outline of the grooved filter rod to be produced.
  • the method may comprise heating the thermoplastic material to be extruded by a heating apparatus of a thermoplastic extrusion mechanism.
  • the method may comprise actively cooling the thermoplastic layer, which may be by use of a liquid bath and/or by use of a nozzle for directing cooling fluid onto the filter rod.
  • the method may comprise heating the body of filter material to cure a plasticiser entrained with the filter material.
  • the method may comprise using a steam supply to heat and harden the filter material and plasticiser.
  • the method may comprise cutting the continuous extruded filter rod into discrete filter rods having continuous open grooves on their outer surface.
  • the method may comprise compressing filter material conveyed through the duct around a mandrel disposed at least partially within the duct to form a tubular body of filter material having a hollow bore, to produce a tubular filter rod.
  • the method may comprise conveying a first filter material through the duct and compressing the first filter material around a hollow mandrel disposed at least partially within the duct to form a tubular body of first filter material having a hollow bore, and feeding a second filter material through an internal passage extending though the mandrel and expelling the second filter material out of an outlet in the passage at a distal end of the mandrel, and opening in an axial direction of the mandrel, to fill the bore of the tubular body of first filter material, to produce a filter rod comprising an outer core of first filter material with an inner core of second filter material.
  • Fig. l schematically shows an apparatus of a first exemplary embodiment the invention
  • Fig. 2 shows a cross-section through the apparatus of Fig. l along the lines A- A;
  • Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a portion of the wrap extruder of the apparatus of Fig. l;
  • FIG. 4 schematically shows an apparatus of a second exemplary embodiment of the invention
  • Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a portion of the wrap extruder of the apparatus of Fig- 4;
  • Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a filter rod manufactured using the apparatus of either Fig. l or Fig. 4;
  • Fig. 7 shows a cross-section through the filter rod of Fig. 6, taken along the line B-B in Fig. 1 or Fig. 4;
  • Fig. 8 shows a tobacco industry product including a filter made from the filter rod of Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 9 shows a section of an apparatus according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 10 shows a section of an apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a filter rod manufactured using the apparatus of Fig. 9.
  • Fig. 12 shows perspective view of a filter rod manufactured using the apparatus of Fig. 10. Detailed Description
  • an apparatus 10 of a first exemplary embodiment is shown for the manufacture of filter rods, and comprises a duct 11 having an inlet 12 and an outlet 13, the duct narrowing at a region between the inlet 12 to the outlet 13.
  • the duct 11 comprises a first section 11a that narrows from the inlet 12 to an intermediate point 15, and a second section 11b of constant cross-section extending from the intermediate point 15 to the outlet 13.
  • a source of compressed air is provided to the duct 11 via one or more compressed air ports 14 (only one is shown in Fig. 1) which, in use, propels filter tow material 47 through the duct 11.
  • the second section 11b of the duct 11 comprises a central bore or passage 16 and a plurality of projecting elements 17 which project inwardly from an inner wall of the passage 16. This is shown more clearly in the cross-sectional view along the line A-A shown in Fig. 2.
  • the cross-sectional shape of the duct 11 with the projecting elements 17 maybe uniform along the length of the second section 11b.
  • a heating region 18 is provided in combination with and around the second duct section 11b.
  • the heating region 18 comprises a closed chamber 19 around the second duct section 11b with steam inlets 20, 21.
  • the second duct section 11b includes a plurality of steam vents 22 which, in use, allow steam provided to the chamber 19 to pass into the bore 16 of the second duct section 11b.
  • a source of dry steam (not shown) is connected to the steam inlets 20, 21 to supply hot dry steam to the chamber 19 and thereby to the second duct section 11b and any material that may be conveyed through the second duct section 11b.
  • thermoplastic outer wrap-extruding station 23 Downstream of the outlet 13 of the second duct section 11b is a thermoplastic outer wrap-extruding station 23 (hereafter “wrap extruder” 23).
  • wrap extruder 23 comprises a manifold 24 with a circular central hole 25 extending therethrough which is axially aligned with the outlet 13 of the second duct section lib.
  • the manifold 24 includes an internal chamber 26 having an inlet 27 at an upper part of the manifold, and an outlet 28 at a downstream face of the manifold 24, and which extends around the circular central hole 25.
  • the outlet 28 is circular although the invention is not limited to this configuration, as will be described hereafter with reference to Fig. 5.
  • the manifold 24 includes means to heat the manifold 24, the internal chamber 26 and any material therein.
  • the manifold 24 includes heating elements 29. These are shown in Fig. 1 as being embedded within the body of the manifold 24, but may equally be disposed on the outside of the manifold 24.
  • Such heating elements 29 may be electrical heating elements, or pipes containing heated fluid, such as steam or water. Such fluid may be circulated within the pipes to an external heater or maybe heated within the pipes by an electrical heating element.
  • a feed pipe 30 is connected at one end to the inlet 27 and at the other end to a funnel or hopper 31, so that material may be conveyed from the hopper 31 through the feed pipe 30 into the internal chamber 26.
  • the feed pipe 30 includes a conveyor 32 configured to feed material from the hopper 31 into the inner chamber 26.
  • the conveyor 32 comprises a screw or auger 33 within the feed pip 30, connected by a drive shaft 34 to a drive motor 35.
  • the drive motor 35 rotates the drive shaft 34 in the direction shown by arrow 'R' to rotate the auger to convey material from the hopper 31 into the inner chamber 26.
  • plastic pellets or chips 36 may be fed into the hopper 31 and conveyed by the conveyor 32 through the feed pipe 30 into the heated internal chamber 26.
  • the heat in the internal chamber 26 melts the plastic chips into a liquid 37.
  • Continuing drive by the conveyor 32 of material from the hopper 31 into the internal chamber 26 causes the molten plastic material 37 to be extruded out of the circular outlet 28 as a tubular sleeve 38. That is, the extruded sleeve 38 is circular in cross-section and is a seamless extrusion, both in circumferential direction and longitudinal direction.
  • the cooling station 39 Downstream of the wrap extruder 23 is a cooling station 39.
  • the cooling station 39 comprising a bath 40 filled with cooling liquid 41, for example water.
  • the bath 40 includes an inlet 42 and an outlet 43.
  • the inlet and outlet 42, 43 may be above or below the liquid level of the bath 40, and may include a sealing element (not shown) around an inner surface of the inlet and/or outlet 42, 43.
  • the bath 40 has a length 'd' as shown in Fig. 1.
  • the length d of the bath 40 may vary within the scope of the invention and may be between 1 to 3 metres, and may be around 2 metres.
  • the invention is not limited to a cooling station having an inlet and outlet, and alternatively the continuous filter rod 48 may pass into the bath 40 through an open top and be otherwise guided through the cooling liquid 41.
  • Downstream of the cooling station 39 is a cutting station 44 which includes a cutting blade 45.
  • the cutting blade may reciprocate in the direction shown by arrow 46.
  • various alternative configurations of cutting blades maybe utilised within the scope of the invention, such as a translating and/or rotating cutting wheel.
  • filter tow material 47 such as cellulose acetate tow
  • the filter material 47 is mixed with a plasticiser, such as triacetate, prior to being fed into the inlet 12 of the duct 11.
  • the plasticiser is mixed with the filter tow 47 in a ratio of about 8 - 9% by weight, although other ratios of plasticiser may be used within the scope of the invention, such as between 7 - 12%, or between 4 - 20%.
  • the filter tow material 47 with entrained plasticiser is conveyed through the duct 11 and out of the outlet 13 by jets of compressed air provided through the compressed air port(s) 14. As the filter tow material 47 is conveyed through the duct 11, it is
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the cross-section of the second duct section 11b and continuous filter rod 48 formed therein, and is not intended to be to scale or accurately represent the shape of the continuous filter rod 48 within the second duct section lib, or the extent to which the continuous filter rod 48 occupies space within the bore 16 of the second duct section 11b.
  • the continuous filter rod 48 passes through the second duct section 11b, it passes through the heating region 18 in which steam supplied to the chamber 19 passes into the filter rod 48 through the steam vents 22 and permeates and heats the filter rod 48.
  • dry steam at around 170 degrees Celsius may be supplied into the chamber 19.
  • the filter rod 48 is also heated by being in contact with the heated second duct section 11b. The supplied heat cures or substantially cures the plasticiser in the filter tow material 47 so that the continuous grooved filter rod 26 hardens to stiffen the continuous filter rod 48, which exits the outlet 13 of the duct 11.
  • the stiffened continuous filter rod 48 subsequently passes to the wrap extruder 23, and is conveyed through the central hole 25 of the manifold 24.
  • the wrap extruder 23 operates as described previously to extrude a sleeve of thermoplastic film 38 around the continuous filter rod 48 as the continuous filter rod 48 passes out of the central hole 25.
  • the sleeve 38 initially contracts around the continuous filter rod 48 when beginning to cool by air exposure and conforms to the grooved outer surface thereof. The sleeve then starts to set into its conformed shape.
  • the sleeve 38 is advantageously around 0.1mm in thickness, although the invention is not intended to be limited to a specific sleeve thickness.
  • the sleeve 38 therefore forms a seamless overwrap around the continuous filter rod 48.
  • the continuous filter rod 48 with sleeve 38 then passes to the cooling station 39.
  • the continuous filter rod 48 passes into the bath 40 through the inlet 42 and through the cooling liquid 41.
  • the sleeve 38 may contract further around the continuous grooved filter rod 48 and the thermoplastic material of the film more fully hardens.
  • the continuous filter rod 48 with sleeve 38 exits the bath 40 through the outlet 43 and proceeds to the cutting station 44 where the cutting blade 45 cuts the continuous filter rod 48 with sleeve 38 into discrete lengths of grooved filter rods 50.
  • These may be single filter length rods of size suitable for use in combination with a single tobacco rod to make a single tobacco industry product, such as a smoking article.
  • the discrete grooved filter rods 50 may be "2-up", “4-up” rods, or other lengths which are a multiple of a single length filter that would be finally combined with a tobacco rod to form a tobacco industry product.
  • Such multiple length filter rods can be supplied to subsequent tobacco industry product manufacturing machinery to be cut to length in later processing steps.
  • a grooved filter rod 50 of an embodiment of the invention manufactured using the above-described apparatus and method is shown in Fig. 6, and in cross-sectional view in Fig. 7.
  • the grooved filter rod 50 has a central axis X-X and is continuous in cross- section along its length. It comprises a core 51 formed from the stiffened continuous grooved filter rod 48, and a thermoplastic sleeve or coating layer 38 on its outer surface and conforming to the grooves in the stiffened filter material core 51.
  • the outermost surface of the grooved filter rod 50, defined by the sleeve 38 includes continuous open grooves 52 extending in an axial direction X-X of the filter rod 50.
  • the plurality of grooves 52 are continuous along their entire length. That is, the grooves 52 are continuously uniform, and are not interrupted by raised portions, by being closed, or having any other form of blockage along their length.
  • Figs. 4 and 5 show an apparatus 60 of a second exemplary embodiment for the manufacture of filter rods, shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Like features in common with the apparatus 10 of the first embodiment retain the same reference numerals and a detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
  • a difference with the apparatus 60 of the second embodiment is that the heating region 18 is omitted and the duct 11 feeds the extruded filter material 47 directly to the wrap extruder 23.
  • the manifold 24 of the wrap extruder includes an outlet aperture 28 having a wavy or star- like shape, as can be seen in Fig. 5.
  • the shape of the outlet aperture 28 corresponds to the desired outer cross-sectional shape of the filter rod 50 to be manufactured.
  • the extruded tubular sleeve 38 of the molten plastic material 37 from the manifold 24 is pre-formed with the configuration of grooves intended for the resulting filter rods 50.
  • the filter material 47 is compressed into a rod-like form in the duct 11 as described previously, and is passed out of the duct outlet 13 to the wrap extruder 23.
  • the wrap extruder 23 produces a continuous grooved sleeve 38 around the rod of compressed filter material 47.
  • the sleeve 38 begins to set and contract around the filter material 47 shortly after exiting the manifold 24, even before being actively cooled. Thereby, the filter material 47 conforms to the grooved shape of the sleeve 38 to produce the grooved filter rod 48 with outer sleeve 38 described previously.
  • the filter material 47 may still comprise a plasticiser to stiffen the resulting filter rod, and maybe of the proportion by weight mentioned above. Such plasticiser may cure during filter rod production after the outer sleeve 38 is applied. Also, heat from the thermoplastic of the sleeve 38 may facilitate curing of the plasticiser.
  • the apparatus 60 of the second embodiment may additionally include a heating region 18 as described with reference to the first embodiment. Such heating region maybe provided downstream of the wrap extruder 23 and upstream of the cooling station 39.
  • the duct 11 of the second embodiment 60 may omit the projecting elements 17 provided with the first embodiment, since the grooved filter rod shape can be provided to the extruded filter material 47 by the grooved sleeve 38 as described above.
  • the invention is not limited to this configuration and projecting elements 17 may still be provided within the duct 11.
  • a further alternative configuration of apparatus is also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention, and is illustrated in Fig. 4.
  • the outlet 13 of the second duct section 11b includes a threaded section 61 on the inside surface thereof, and a die 62 with a threaded outer surface is secured in the outlet 13 in the threaded section 61.
  • the die 62 includes an outlet aperture 63 through which the filter material 47 is extruded.
  • the outlet aperture 63 of the die 62 may be appropriately shaped to form the filter material 47 into the desired rod shape and cross-sectional size.
  • the die 62 may include a plurality of inwardly projecting elements 64 which may preliminarily form grooves in the extruded filter material 47 before it reaches the wrap extruder 23.
  • the projecting elements 64 of the die 62 maybe circumferentially aligned and in register about the longitudinal axis of the extruded filter material 47 rod with the inner points of the star-shaped outlet aperture 28 of the manifold 24 so that the grooved sleeve 38 seats in the pre-formed grooves in the filter material 47 rod.
  • this alignment in register is not an essential feature of the invention and even without such specific alignment, the sleeve 38 may naturally seat and tessellate with the grooves of the filter material 47 rod as the sleeve 38 is formed around and contracts around the filter material rod.
  • the die 62 may be removable from the second duct section 11b, to allow for
  • the die 62 may alternatively be an integral part of the second duct section 11b. It will also be appreciated that, if the die 62 is removable from the duct 11, then other means of securing the die 62 to the duct 11 may be used, for example a bayonet socket fitting.
  • the manifold 24 with the star-shaped outlet aperture 28 maybe used with the apparatus 10 of the first embodiment of the invention.
  • the inner points of the star-shaped outlet aperture 28 of the manifold 24 may be circumferentially aligned and in register about the longitudinal axis of the extruded filter rod 48 with the grooves 49 of the extruded filter rod 48 and the projecting elements 17 of the second duct section 11b, to facilitate the grooved sleeve 38 fitting directly into grooves in the filter rod 48.
  • the invention is not limited to such an aligned configuration, and even without such specific alignment, the sleeve 38 may naturally seat and tessellate with the grooves 49 of the filter rod 48 as the sleeve 38 is formed around and contracts around the filter rod 48.
  • the grooved filter rods 50 of embodiments of the invention manufactured using the above-described apparatuses and methods have a hardened thermoplastic sleeve. This provides the grooved filter rods 50 with a smoother and harder outermost surface than would be present in a non-wrapped grooved filter formed only by grooving and stiffening filter tow material, without also providing an outer sleeve. This may be advantageous in tobacco industry products in which a rotatable filter section is provided and in which some form of ratchet function may be desired in the rotatable filter section.
  • a projection or pawl may engage with the grooves 52 and the harder sleeve 38 may provide a more positive detent position of the pawl within the grooves 52, and also a more audible click or other sound as the pawl locates in a groove 52. This may also provide a more detectable tactile and sensory feedback to the user as the pawl locates in a detent position, and also make definition of rotational positions more secure.
  • Fig. 6 shows one exemplary configuration of a tobacco industry product comprising a smoking article 80 incorporating a filter 50 of an embodiment of the invention.
  • the smoking article comprises a tobacco rod 81 with a filter 50 abutting one end of the tobacco rod 81 and joined to the tobacco rod 81 by a tipping wrapper 82 which overlies the join between the tobacco rod 81 and the a filter 50.
  • ventilation holes 83 are provided to allow ambient air to be drawn into the grooves 52 for increased ventilation as a user draws on the smoking article 80.
  • the smoking article 80 may comprise a rotatable mouthpiece section which maybe provided with a ratchet or pawl to create a tactile and audible click as the mouthpiece portion is rotated to detent positions.
  • the apparatuses 10, 60 of the exemplary embodiments show the projecting elements 17 being generally triangular in cross-section, although the invention is not intended to be limited to such configuration, and different configurations of projecting elements are envisaged to produce filter rods with different configurations of grooves.
  • the number of grooves may be varied, as well as the depth or shape, for example squared, V-shaped, U-shaped, grooves maybe produced by appropriately shaped projecting elements 17.
  • the cooling station 39 in the exemplary embodiments shown and described comprises a water bath, although the invention is not intended to be limited to this configuration of cooling station 39.
  • the cooling station maybe configured to supply a cooling fluid such as cooling air or a cooling spray or mist, such as a water spray, through one or more nozzles directed at the continuous filter rod 48 with sleeve 38.
  • the cooling station 39 is generally advantageously provided to actively cool the filter rod 48 with sleeve 38, that is, to provide a cooling action acting upon the filter rod 48 with sleeve 38 to speed up the cooling process, particularly of the thermoplastic sleeve 38, to cool more quickly than would otherwise be the case if the filter rod 48 and sleeve were just allowed to cool naturally in ambient air.
  • the exemplary apparatuses 10, 60 described above are configured to produce filter rods 50 having a continuous core 51 of a single material with an outer thermoplastic sleeve 38.
  • the invention is not intended to be limited to such apparatuses or such filter rods, and it is intended that tube filter rods or co-axial core filter rods having a grooved outer surface with conforming thermoplastic sleeve are also within the scope of the invention, as are apparatuses and methods for manufacturing such filter rods.
  • An exemplary tube filter rod 90 is shown in Figure 11 and comprises the same features of the filter rod 50 shown in Fig. 6, with like features retaining the same reference numerals.
  • a difference with the filter rod 90 of Fig. 11 is that the core 51 comprises a hollow axial bore 91 through the filter rod.
  • FIG. 12 An exemplary co-axial core filter rod 100 is shown in Fig. 12 and comprises the same features of the filter rod 50 shown in Fig. 6, with like features retaining the same reference numerals.
  • the core 51 comprises an outer core 101 and an inner core 102.
  • the outer and inner cores 101, 102 are co-axial.
  • the outer core 101 comprises a first material and the inner core 102 comprises a second material.
  • the outer core 101 may advantageously comprise filter tow stiffened with cured plasticiser, as described previously, to help give the filter rod 100 strength and firmness.
  • the inner core 102 may also comprise filter tow, but it may not comprise a plasticiser, or it may be coloured of include a flavourant.
  • the inner core 102 may include additives such as activated carbon particles. Such additives may be entrained within filter tow material or may exclusively comprise the inner core 102.
  • a section of apparatus 110 of a third exemplary embodiment to produce a tube filter rod 80 of Fig. 11 is shown in Fig. 9.
  • the section of apparatus 110 shown comprises a duct 11 showing a first duct section 11a and part of a second duct section iiba.
  • the first duct section 11a narrows from an inlet 12 towards an outlet (not shown) and an intermediate point 15 which is the start of the second duct section 11b.
  • Compressed air is provided to the duct 11 via one or more compressed air ports 14 to propel filter tow material 47 through the duct 11.
  • Those parts of the apparatus not shown in Fig. 9 may be the same as those of the apparatuses 10, 60 of the first or second exemplary embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 4.
  • a difference with the apparatus 110 of the third embodiment is that a mandrel 111 is provided within the duct 11, through at least part of both the first and second duct sections 11a, 11b, and extends through the central bore or passage 16, and spaced from the inner walls of the duct 11.
  • the filter material 47 is formed around the mandrel 111 and so the resulting filter rod 90 comprises the hollow axial bore 91 described above.
  • a section of apparatus 120 of a fourth exemplary embodiment to produce a co-axial filter rod 100 of Fig. 12 is shown in Fig. 10.
  • the section of apparatus 120 shown comprises a duct 11 showing a first duct section 11a and part of a second duct section iiba.
  • the first duct section 11a narrows from an inlet 12 towards an outlet (not shown) and an intermediate point 15 which is the start of the second duct section 11b.
  • Compressed air is provided to the duct 11 via one or more compressed air ports 14 to propel filter tow material 47 through the duct 11.
  • Those parts of the apparatus not shown in Fig. 10 may be the same as those of the apparatuses 10, 60 of the first or second exemplary embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 4.
  • a difference with the apparatus 120 of the fourth embodiment is that a hollow mandrel 121 is provided within the duct 11 and extends through the central bore or passage 16, and spaced from the inner walls of the duct 11.
  • the filter material 47 which comprises a first filter material, is formed around the hollow mandrel 121 to provide the outer core 101.
  • the hollow mandrel 121 includes a central bore 122 extending in an axial direction through the hollow mandrel 121.
  • the central bore 122 includes an inlet 122a at an upstream end thereof and an outlet (not shown) at a downstream end. (The central bore 122 is shown as narrowing from the inlet 122a towards the outlet although the invention is not limited by this configuration).
  • the outlet advantageously opens in an axial direction of the hollow mandrel 121.
  • the hollow mandrel 121 extends through at least a portion of both the first and second duct sections 11a, 11b.
  • the hollow mandrel 121 is advantageously fixedly secured in the apparatus 110 so as to be fixed relative to the duct 11.
  • a second filter material 123 is fed into the inlet 122a of the central bore 122 and is forced through the central bore 122 and out of the outlet in an axial direction of the central bore 122. That is, the second filter material 123 is expelled from the hollow mandrel 121 in an axial direction thereof.
  • the second filter material 123 forms the inner core 102 of the co-axial filter 100 described above. This may advantageously provide a continuous inner core 102 through the entire filter rod 100 length.
  • the central hole 25 of the manifold 24, and/or the inlet 42 and/or outlet 43 of the bath 40 may be shaped in the same configuration as the bore 16 of the second duct section 11b and/or the
  • the outlet aperture 63 of the die 62 may include inwardly-facing projections to locate in the grooves 49, 52 of the filter rod 48, 50.
  • Such inwardly-facing projections of an exemplary embodiment are shown in broken lines at reference 25A in Figs. 3 and 5, each showing the manifold 24 and feed pipe 30 of exemplary wrap extruders 23.
  • projections of exemplary embodiments provided on the inlet 42/outlet 43 of the bath 40 maybe of a similar configuration as those shown in Figs. 3 and 5, although are not explicitly shown in context of the bath 40).
  • These projections 25A may help maintain the grooved configuration of the filter rod 48, 50 during manufacture.
  • the inward projections 25A of the central hole 25/inlet 42/outlet 43 maybe aligned and in register in a
  • any such projections 25A maybe aligned with the inward points of the star-shaped outlet aperture 28 to facilitate the grooved sleeve 38 fitting to the shape of the grooved extruded rod of filter material.
  • second duct section 11b with projecting elements 17 of the apparatus 10 of the first embodiment may be interchangeable within the scope of the invention. That is, the apparatus 10 of the first embodiment may include a die 62 with projecting elements 64, and the apparatus 60 of the second embodiment, may include projecting elements 17 along the second duct section 11b. Furthermore, projecting elements 64 on the die 62 may be provided in addition to, as well as instead of, inwardly projecting elements 17 formed on an inside wall of the second duct section 11b.
  • the arrangement of grooves 49, 52 around the filter rod 48, 50 may vary within the scope of the invention.
  • the grooves 49, 52 may be regularly sized and/or spaced around the circumference of the filter rod 48, 50, or may be unevenly spaced or sized, by appropriate configuration of the projecting elements 17.
  • An advantage of having regularly spaced and sized grooves 49, 52 is that the orientation of the filter rod 50 about its axis X-X is not critical in a subsequent tobacco industry product
  • thermoplastic material of the sleeve 38 may comprise polypropylene, although the invention is not intended to be limited to this material, and other suitable known thermoplastics may be used, such as polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyvinyl chloride.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • PVC polyvinyl chloride
  • the apparatuses 10 and the methods of the exemplary embodiments of the invention achieve manufacture of filter rods without use of a conventional garniture belt and plug wrap, thereby avoiding the added complexity and materials, and therefore cost of conventional methods of wrapped filter manufacture.
  • tobacco industry product is intended to include smoking articles comprising combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material), electronic smoking articles such as e-cigarettes, heating devices that release compounds from substrate materials without burning such as tobacco heating products, hybrid systems to generate aerosol from a combination of substrate materials, for example hybrid systems containing a liquid or gel or solid substrate; and aerosol-free nicotine delivery articles such as lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising breathable powders and smokeless tobacco products such as snus and snuff.
  • smoking articles comprising combustible smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own cigarettes, (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material), electronic smoking articles such as e-cigarettes, heating devices that release compounds
  • the tobacco industry product is a non-combustible smoking article.
  • the tobacco industry product is a heating device which releases compounds by heating, but not burning, a substrate material.
  • the material maybe for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the heating device is a tobacco heating device.
  • the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials.
  • the substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate.
  • the solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco

Abstract

L'invention concerne un bâtonnet-filtre et un appareil et un procédé de fabrication d'un bâtonnet-filtre pour un produit issu de l'industrie du tabac comprenant un corps extrudé de matériau filtrant ayant une surface externe comprenant une pluralité de rainures continues, s'étendant dans une direction axiale du corps, et une couche thermoplastique formée autour du corps et se conformant à la surface externe rainurée du corps de sorte que la surface la plus externe du bâtonnet-filtre comprend une pluralité de rainures ouvertes et continues s'étendant dans une direction axiale du bâtonnet-filtre. L'invention concerne également un appareil et un procédé de fabrication d'un tel bâtonnet-filtre.
PCT/GB2017/051047 2016-05-19 2017-04-13 Bâtonnet-filtre ayant un revêtement ondulé, appareil et procédé de fabrication WO2017198995A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB1608815.5A GB201608815D0 (en) 2016-05-19 2016-05-19 Filter rod and apparatus and method
GB1608815.5 2016-05-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017198995A1 true WO2017198995A1 (fr) 2017-11-23

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GB (1) GB201608815D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2017198995A1 (fr)

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CN108542003A (zh) * 2018-04-19 2018-09-18 湖北金叶玉阳化纤有限公司 一种低吸阻聚乳酸滤棒及其制备方法
CN109090705A (zh) * 2018-06-27 2018-12-28 当阳鸥翼德电子科技有限公司 一种新型低吸阻沟槽滤棒及制备方法
CN109463797A (zh) * 2018-11-30 2019-03-15 江苏大亚滤嘴材料有限公司 一种无包裹纸滤棒的成型工艺
WO2019170455A1 (fr) * 2018-03-08 2019-09-12 Philip Morris Products S.A. Articles de production d'aérosol
CN110292208A (zh) * 2019-05-23 2019-10-01 云南恩典科技产业发展有限公司 一种具有中空结构的加热不燃烧卷烟烟支
CN113907416A (zh) * 2021-11-11 2022-01-11 南通烟滤嘴有限责任公司 一种多轴多芯滤棒的制备装置
EP3716795B1 (fr) 2017-11-28 2022-01-26 Philip Morris Products S.A. Article de génération d'aérosol ayant une cavité d'extrémité buccale améliorée
US11737490B2 (en) 2017-12-22 2023-08-29 Essentra Filter Products Development Co. Pte. Ltd. Smoking article mouthpiece
US11779047B2 (en) 2019-03-28 2023-10-10 Philip Morris Products S.A. Forming apparatus and method for forming a continuous tubular rod from a continuous tow material

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CN113712253A (zh) * 2021-08-31 2021-11-30 南通烟滤嘴有限责任公司 一种内芯悬空滤棒及其制备装置与方法

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WO2013030289A1 (fr) * 2011-09-02 2013-03-07 British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited Fabrication de tiges à fumer rainurées

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US3607512A (en) * 1969-01-03 1971-09-21 Philip Morris Inc Extruding tow filled mouthpiece rod having serrated inner surfaces clenching the tow
GB2119221A (en) * 1982-04-05 1983-11-16 Filtrona Ltd Cigarette filter
EP0146114A1 (fr) * 1983-12-13 1985-06-26 H.F. & Ph.F. Reemtsma GmbH & Co Cigarette avec un embout filtrant ventilé en une pièce
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Cited By (14)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3716795B1 (fr) 2017-11-28 2022-01-26 Philip Morris Products S.A. Article de génération d'aérosol ayant une cavité d'extrémité buccale améliorée
US11877593B2 (en) 2017-11-28 2024-01-23 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosol generating article having improved mouth end cavity
US11737490B2 (en) 2017-12-22 2023-08-29 Essentra Filter Products Development Co. Pte. Ltd. Smoking article mouthpiece
WO2019170455A1 (fr) * 2018-03-08 2019-09-12 Philip Morris Products S.A. Articles de production d'aérosol
CN111712143A (zh) * 2018-03-08 2020-09-25 菲利普莫里斯生产公司 气溶胶生成制品
US11839234B2 (en) 2018-03-08 2023-12-12 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosol generating articles
CN108542003A (zh) * 2018-04-19 2018-09-18 湖北金叶玉阳化纤有限公司 一种低吸阻聚乳酸滤棒及其制备方法
CN109090705B (zh) * 2018-06-27 2021-07-02 深圳格林韵达科技有限公司 一种新型低吸阻沟槽滤棒及制备方法
CN109090705A (zh) * 2018-06-27 2018-12-28 当阳鸥翼德电子科技有限公司 一种新型低吸阻沟槽滤棒及制备方法
CN109463797B (zh) * 2018-11-30 2021-01-01 江苏大亚滤嘴材料有限公司 一种无包裹纸滤棒的成型工艺
CN109463797A (zh) * 2018-11-30 2019-03-15 江苏大亚滤嘴材料有限公司 一种无包裹纸滤棒的成型工艺
US11779047B2 (en) 2019-03-28 2023-10-10 Philip Morris Products S.A. Forming apparatus and method for forming a continuous tubular rod from a continuous tow material
CN110292208A (zh) * 2019-05-23 2019-10-01 云南恩典科技产业发展有限公司 一种具有中空结构的加热不燃烧卷烟烟支
CN113907416A (zh) * 2021-11-11 2022-01-11 南通烟滤嘴有限责任公司 一种多轴多芯滤棒的制备装置

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