BRPI0720536A2 - FILTER FOR SMOKING ARTICLE, AND SMOKING ARTICLE - Google Patents

Description

"FILTER FOR A SMOKING ARTICLE, AND SMOKING ARTICLE"

The present invention relates to a filter for a smoking article and smoking articles incorporating a filter element.

Smoking articles and filters may vary.

significantly from one market to another due to many different factors including consumer preference and tradition. In certain markets, there is a preference for a recess filter at the mouth end that can be used to increase the overall filter length. The recess is achieved by wrapping the plug of the filter material with a plug wrap that extends beyond the plug end of the filter material at the mouth end of the filter. In order to minimize the susceptibility that the suspended portion of the tampon wrap will damage and deform, for example, as a result of the packaging process or during handling and smoking by a consumer, a tampon wrap that is more thicker than a conventional cigarette cap wrap. A tampon wrap such as this is up to four times the basis weight of a conventional tampon wrap and thus is significantly more resistant to deformation and incorporates a high level of rigidity at the mouth end of the filter. However, the need for a thick cap wrap such as this means that conventional (more economical) cap wrappers cannot be used on a lower end filter and also incorporates significant problems with the filter venting process and in particular the process. inline laser perforation of the filter, thus not allowing high levels of ventilation to be obtained.

Several known filter arrangements are disclosed in: GB2203324, GB2170695, GB2150415, GB2150413, GB2135865, GB0781654, WO 99/65343 and US 3396733. The present invention provides a filter for a smoking article comprising a first and a second section, the first section being at one end of the mouth side filter and comprising a cylindrical member with a hollow portion extending therethrough and circumscribed by a wrapper, and the second section being longitudinally aligned and adjacent to the first section and comprising a material filtration The second section comprises a particulate material in a circumferential region thereof, the particulate material extending to the end of the second section immediately adjacent to the first section. The use of particulate materials such as carbon or carbon

Activated, in tobacco smoke filter elements to reduce vapor vapor phase constituents of smoke has been known from somewhere. One known way to include carbon or other additives in filters is to adhere particles of the additive in a wrapper surrounding the filter element. GB 2,260,477 and GB 2,261,152 describe various additive adhesion configurations. In some cases, particulate carbon, when provided in a filter section at the mouth end may be likely to fall from the filter end, this is highly undesirable as it is possible that particulate carbon may become loose and penetrate the mouth. Consumer Providing a first filter section at the mouth end of the filter with a hollow portion extending therethrough helps prevent particulate matter from falling, while still maintaining the appearance of a lowered filter.

The particulate material may extend the entire longitudinal length of the second section. The particulate material may also extend the entire width of the wrap. In this case, the particulate material may cover the entire surface of the wrapper, although a splice may be left uncovered to allow adhesive to be applied and the wrapper to be sealed around the filtering material. Alternatively, the particulate material may extend only a portion of the longitudinal length of the wrapper. Similarly, the particulate material may extend only a part of the width of the wrap.

Particulate matter may extend into two or more parts of the second section. The two or more parts are preferably circumferentially spaced from each other.

Alternatively, the two or more parts may comprise three, four, five, six, seven or eight parts.

In some embodiments, the filtration material of the second section may further comprise a particulate material dispersed between the filtration material.

The particulate material of the filtration material may be the same particulate material provided in the circumferential region of the second section of the cap wrap. Alternatively, the particulate material of the filtration material may be different from the particulate material provided in the circumferential region of the second plug wrap section.

In some embodiments, the wrap may further comprise venting device. For example, the ventilation device may comprise one or more ventilation holes provided in gaps between the two or more parts. The cylindrical element will generally have a thickness (in the direction

sufficient to conceal at least part of the particulate material. In other words, the cylindrical element acts as a physical barrier located at the mouth end of the particulate material to prevent the particulate material from escaping from the second filter section. The thickness of the cylindrical element may be 1-4 mm, and is preferably in the range of 1-3 mm.

Suitably the cylindrical element is circumscribed by a

wrap, which is preferably a filter scope wrap. This one

* 2 cap wrap can have a base weight of less than 50 g / m. Less than 45 g / m2, less than 40 g / m2, less than 35 g / m2, less than 30 g / m2. This cap wrapper may have a basis weight equivalent to a conventional cap wrapper (wrapper), namely about 23 to about 27 g / m2.

A second aspect of the present invention provides an article

for smoking comprising a filter according to the invention.

Preferably, the particulate material includes sorbents (e.g., selected from activated carbon, carbon, silica gel, sepiolite, alumina, ion exchange material, etc.), pH modifiers (e.g., alkaline materials such as Na2CO3, acidic materials). , flavorings, other solid additives and mixtures thereof.

Advantageously, the particulate material is selected from a group of relatively high surface area materials capable of adsorbing smoke constituents without a high degree of specificity. Suitable general adsorbents may be selected from the group consisting of carbon, activated carbon, activated carbon, activated coconut carbon, activated carbon or charcoal carbon, zeolite, silica gel, sepiolite, aluminum oxide (activated or not) , carbonaceous resin or combinations thereof.

An example of a suitable charcoal-based charcoal is one made of semi-anthracite charcoal with a density about 50% greater than that of coconut charcoal (available from Calgon Carbon, Pittsburgh, PA, WA).

An example of a suitable carbonaceous resin is one derived from sulfonated divinyl benzene-styrene pyrolysis, such as Ambersorb 572 or Ambersorb 563 (available from Rohm and Hass). To increase the efficiency of the general adsorbent metal, oxides or other metal-based complexes may optionally be included or impregnated in the general adsorbent section.

In one embodiment, preferably the particulate material used herein is carbon, for example activated carbon, or charcoal or other absorbent material. In one embodiment, preferably the activated carbon is activated coconut carbon.

Any particulate material used may be a single substance or a mixture, and / or may be mixed with another material.

In one embodiment, preferably the particulate material is arranged in two separate regions circumferentially spaced from each other. Alternatively, the particulate material may be arranged in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 regions circumferentially separated from each other. Additionally, a larger number of regions can be used if required.

Each region or separate portion of particulate material may comprise particulate material that is the same or different from the other separate regions. In one embodiment, preferably the particulate material in the separate regions is the same. In one embodiment, conveniently, the material

Particulate matter may be applied to two or more parts of the longitudinal inner face of the wrap.

In one embodiment, the particulate material is disposed around the inner circumference of the wrap such that the wrap has an overlapping longitudinal edge that is free of said particulate material and provides a folded and glued seam retaining the wrap around the core. .

The particulate material may extend continuously over the entire longitudinal length of said wrapper. Continuously is understood that the particulate material is applied such that loading at any point in the longitudinal length of the wrap is the same (or substantially the same) as loading at any other point along the longitudinal length of the wrap. Continuously means that at no point along the longitudinal length of the wrapper is there a part of the wrapper without particulate matter if the particulate material is present at another point along the same longitudinal length of the wrapper. Preferably, the particulate material is applied longitudinally to the wrapper (e.g., tampon wrapper) in a continuous manner. Preferably, along the longitudinal geometrical axis of the wrapper, the particulate material is present as a direct current (i.e. without breaks or spaces). In other words, the particulate material extends continuously along the longitudinal geometric axis of the wrapper.

The particulate material may extend continuously over the entire width of said wrapper.

In some embodiments, the particulate material may be present as adhesives.

The filter element wrap is preferably a paper wrap. Preferably, the wrap is a conventional cap wrap.

In one embodiment, the wrap may be a conventional cap wrap that covers 360 ° of the core, in which case the cap wrap has a folded and glued seam that holds the wrap around the core.

In one embodiment, preferably the filter element according to the present invention has a filter material comprising particulate material dispersed in the filter material and has a cap wrapper covering 360 ° of the filter material.

In another embodiment, the wrap (in particular, cap wrap) preferably does not extend 360 ° around the filter material. In other words, in one embodiment, preferably the wrapper is a split wrapper. A split wrap is one that extends circumferentially around the filter material but extends less than 360 ° around the circumference of the filter material. In such an embodiment, there is no folded and glued seam that holds the wrap around the filtration material. Instead, the split wrap may be held in place by other known means, such as by gluing the wrap directly on the filter material, for example.

The wrapper for use in the filter element may be porous or

not porous.

The wrapper for use in the filter element may be vented or unventilated.

Advantageously, the second section filtration material may comprise (or consist of) conventional fibrous cellulose acetate material, polypropylene or polyethylene or recycled paper material.

Preferably, the filtration material comprises

cellulose.

In one embodiment, the second section filtration material is a Dalmatian type filter material.

Particulate material may be dispersed throughout the filtration material. Alternatively, the particulate material may be dispersed in some (but not all) parts of the filtration material. The parts may be evenly or non-evenly distributed.

The particulate material adhered to the wrap may be homogeneous - in the sense that it is made up of substantially the same component (for some embodiments, preferably all the same). Alternatively, the particulate material adhered to the wrapper may be heterogeneous - in the sense that it consists of two or more different components.

Particulate matter adhered to the wrapper may come into contact with the filtration material. Preferably, some or all of the particulate material adhered to the wrapper is in contact with the filtration material. For some embodiments, preferably substantially all particulate material adhered to the wrapper is in contact with the filtration material.

The filter is preferably internally attached with a smokable charge cylinder (e.g., tobacco) by means of a ferrule wrap. Advantageously, the tip wrap is a paper.

In one embodiment, the filter may comprise additional filter section (s). The additional filter section (s) will be at the end of the filter tobacco cylinder. Conveniently, one, two, three or more additional filter sections may be provided in the filter. The additional filter section (s) may be any type of filter section known to those skilled in the art. Conveniently, the filter sections are arranged longitudinally with each other, with the end of each filter element resting on the next.

Conveniently, the wrap surrounding the second filter section is preferably pre-coated with the particulate material.

The particulate material may be adhered to the wrap by a hot melt adhesive (e.g., various polyester adhesives), high molecular weight polyethylene glycol or emulsion type adhesive such as PVA.

Particulate matter may be adhered directly or indirectly to the wrapper. An example of direct adhesion is where particulate material is affixed to the wrap (such as its inner surface) by a suitable adhesive. An example of indirect adhesion is where the particulate material is affixed to an intermediate layer (which may be made of paper or another suitable backing matrix - such as a textile material - or combinations thereof) by a suitable adhesive and wherein The intermediate layer is affixed to the wrap (such as its inner surface) by a suitable adhesive. Conveniently, the additional filter section (s) of the filter may comprise a conventional cellulose acetate, polypropylene or fibrous polyethylene material, or a recycled paper material. The additional filter section (s) may optionally comprise one or more additives, for example disposed on or within the filter element material may be additional flavoring materials described above which are released. or eluted from the filter element during use.

The cylindrical member of the first mouth end section can be made of a variety of materials, for example cellulose acetate fiber, cellulose, paper, cotton, polypropylene membrane, polypropylene fiber, polyester membrane, polyester or combinations thereof. It is preferable that the element comprises cellulose acetate.

In addition, the pressure drop and / or mechanical filtration efficiency of the filter sections may be selected to achieve the desired mechanical smoking and mechanical filtration characteristics, which may be required with the desired specific product design.

A part of the filter may comprise a catalyst. Advantageously, the catalyst facilitates the conversion of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (COi) in the vapor phase of smoke. It is most preferable that the catalyst be highly selective for carbon monoxide. Conveniently, the catalyst may be one of the group consisting of transition metal oxides, silica, alumina, zeolites, impregnated carbon, for example, metal impregnated carbon.

Conveniently, the filter and / or smoking article according to the present invention may comprise ventilation devices. For example, the venting device may comprise one or more holes in the wrapper fitted around the filtering material of the second section. The holes may advantageously be positioned in regions of the wrapper in which the particulate material is not adhered. Ventilation holes are usually formed in filter wraps by laser perforation. Carbon granules in the region where ventilation is required can cause the laser to produce sparks when holes are being drilled. Placement of vent holes in gaps between particulate material parts addresses this problem.

The venting device may comprise perforation holes in the nozzle wrap used to attach the filter and the smoked cargo cylinder material wrapped (e.g., tobacco).

Alternatively, the vent device may be provided by the use of a porous tip wrap used in conjunction with a perforated cap wrap. The porous tip wrap may be porous to its full extent, or only to a localized extent, which is in record with the underlying perforated cap wrap.

The venting device may additionally be provided at or near the cylinder end of the wrapped smokable cargo material (e.g., tobacco). The venting device may be provided in the tip wrap or cigarette paper wrapper surrounding the smokable material (e.g., tobacco).

Conveniently, the filter may be attached to a cylinder of wrapped smokable cargo material (i.e., wrapped tobacco cylinder, for example) by conventional tip wrap to form a smoking article. The tip wrap can be either a vented or unventilated wrap.

The cylinder length of the smoking material is advantageously at least 60 mm and the cylinder preferably should produce no less than six puffs and more preferably no less than seven puffs when smoked under standard machine smoking conditions. The cylinder preferably has uniform shape and dimensions and shape throughout the length of the cylinder.

The wrapper surrounding the smoking article may comprise a burning additive such as sodium and / or potassium citrate, for example. Other suitable burning additives, such as sodium or potassium salts, such as acetate or tartrate; Ammonium monophosphate, and hydrogen sodium diphosphate, for example, are known to those skilled in the art. The firing additive may be present in the range 0.5 - 2.5% by weight of the wrap. The wrap may also have a basis weight in the range of - 40 g / m2.

The wrapper of the smoking article may alternatively or additionally be a non-paper wrapper, such as wrappers described in international patent applications, publications WO 96/07336 and WO 01/041590. Such wraps assist in the reduction of sidestream smoke components, but still provide a smoking article that has similar burning and ash-forming characteristics as conventional products, that is, the wraps allow the smoking article to be burned and turned into smoke. ashes in a similar way to conventional products.

Conveniently, the smokable filler material may be tobacco containing material, or a tobacco substitute material. Preferably, the smokable material is a tobacco material. Conveniently, the tobacco material comprises one or more cylinder, blade, tobacco dirt and reconstituted tobacco. It is preferable that the tobacco material comprises one or more of the following types: Virginia or kiln-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, reconstituted tobacco. It is most preferable that the smokable material comprises a mixture of tobacco material. Advantageously, the smokable material comprises 10-80% Virginia tobacco, 10-60% Burley tobacco, 0-20% Oriental tobacco, 0-120% reconstituted tobacco and 0-30% expanded tobacco. The term "carbon" as used herein may be considered to encompass a material that is substantially carbon only and any carbon precursor such as carbonaceous material. As used herein, the term carbonaceous includes material that has been pyrolyzed, which material preferably contains carbon, although some incomplete combustion products may still be present. Already pyrolyzed coconut fiber, for example, may be the carbonaceous material from which carbon is derived.

As used herein, the term "smoking material" or "smoking material" means any material that may be used in a smoking article. It does not necessarily mean that the material itself will necessarily sustain combustion.

As used herein, the term "smoking article" means any product that is used in the tobacco industry and includes smokable or similar products for dispensing an aerosol to the consumer. Smoking articles include cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and similar articles.

In order that the present invention may be clearly understood and readily practiced, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a recess filter at the mouth end according to the prior art;

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a filter according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows an end view of the mouth end of a filter according to one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a filter according to an additional embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a filter according to an alternative arrangement of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a known filter 1 attached to a tobacco cylinder 2 (only a part of which is shown) to form a cigarette. Filter 1 consists of a cellulose acetate buffer 3 (filtration material) circumscribed by a buffer 4 wrap. The buffer 4 wrap is larger than the cellulose acetate buffer 3 and is suspended in the cellulose acetate buffer on the end of the mouth side filter 1 to create a recess with a typical depth of approximately 5 mm. The length of the buffer 4 wrap suspension is designated in FIG. 1 by the reference character χ. Filter 1 is attached to the tobacco cylinder by a ferrule wrap 5 in a conventional manner. The cap wrap 4 is typically a wrap with a high base weight, for example 100 g / m 2, to provide stiffness to filter 1. Figure 2 shows a filter 1 according to the present invention.

invention in which a first section at the mouth end filter end 1 comprises a tubular cellulose acetate cap 6 with a hollow central core designated by reference numeral 7 in Figure 2. The filter 1 also consists of a second section in the end of the filter cylinder 1 and adjacent to the first section. The second section comprises a buffer of cellulose acetate filter material 3 circumscribed by a buffer wrap 4, whose buffer wrap 4 may also circumscribe cellulose acetate buffer 3 of the first section. Alternatively, buffers 3, 6 may also be circumscribed by a respective individual buffer wrap. The filter 1 is attached to a tobacco cylinder 2 to form a cigarette by a standard tip wrap 5. The cap 4 wrap and / or the tip wrap 5 may be vented (not shown) anywhere on its surface and in a varying amount depending on the particular product. The cellulose acetate plug 6 of the first filter section can be, for example, 7 mm long and provides rigidity to the mouth side filter end 1 and allows a conventional plug wrap 4 to be used without reducing strength.

Figure 3 shows the filter of figure 2 in end view from its mouth end. The cylindrical cellulose acetate cap 6 defines a hollow core 7 longitudinally along the center of the cap 6. The cap of the second section cellulose acetate filter material 3 can be seen at the far end of the hollow core 7. The thickness of the Cylindrical cellulose acetate plug 6 is defined by the outer surface of the plug 9 and the inner surface of the plug 8. This thickness, designated by the reference character ζ in Figure 3, may vary depending on the desired size of the recess at the filter end of the filter. Side of Mouth 1. Cylindrical Cellulose Acetate Cap 6 is circumscribed by a cap wrap (not shown) and is wrapped by a ferrule wrap (not shown) to attach filter 1 to a tobacco cylinder in a formed cigarette. . The inner surface of the plug of the first filter section can be any shape desired and thus serves to create a recognizable shape for the hollow core 7.

The filter 1 of FIG. 4 comprises all the features of FIG. 2, and the same reference numerals are used to denote equivalent features, with the addition of a particulate activated carbon 10 adhered to the inner surface of the cap 4 envelope circumscribing the acetate buffer. of cellulose 3 of the second filter section. The carbon 10 extends over the entire longitudinal length of the second section, for example 20 mm in length. The wall thickness of the cellulose acetate buffer of the first filter section is sufficient to cover the carbon in the support position between the first and second filter sections and to prevent any carbon 10 from loosening and escaping to the first filter section, or beyond the end of the mouth side filter 1. Figure 5 shows a filter 1 comprising all the features of figure 4, with the change in carbon layer length 10. Particulate activated carbon 10 extends only in one part 4 cap wrapper circumscribing cellulose acetate cap 3 of the second filter section. The carbon 10 extends from the end of the cellulose acetate plug 3 closest to the mouth end filter end 1 to a spaced apart portion of the plug 3 toward the tobacco cylinder 2.

All publications mentioned in the specification presented herein are incorporated by reference. Also included herein by reference is our copending UK patent application filed July 6, 2006 and application number 0613483. Various modifications and variations of the disclosed methods and systems of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. present invention. While the present invention has been described with respect to specific preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the claimed invention should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Of course, various modifications of the methods described for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art should fall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (18)

Filter for a smoking article, characterized in that it comprises a first and a second section, the first section being at one end of the mouth-side filter and comprising a cylindrical member with a hollow portion extending therethrough. and being circumscribed by a wrapper, and the second section being longitudinally aligned and adjacent to the first section and comprising a filtration material, wherein the second section comprises a particulate material in a circumferential region thereof, the particulate material extending to a end of the second section immediately adjacent to the first section. Filter according to Claim 1, characterized in that the particulate material extends over the entire longitudinal length of the second section. Filter according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that two or more parts of the circumferential region of the second section comprise particulate material. Filter according to Claim 3, characterized in that the two or more parts are spaced circumferentially from each other. Filter according to Claim 4, characterized in that the two or more parts are arranged symmetrically around the second section. Filter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wrapper surrounds the second section and the particulate material is adhered to the surface of the wrapper. Filter according to Claim 6, characterized in that the particulate material is adhered to an inner surface of the wrapper surrounding the second section. Filter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the particulate material is an adsorbent. Filter according to Claim 8, characterized in that the particulate material is activated carbon. Filter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second section further comprises a particulate material dispersed in the filter material. Filter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylindrical element has a wall defined by the outer surface of the element and the hollow part extending therethrough, the wall being of a thickness to conceal. at least partially the particulate material in a circumferential region of the second section at the fulcrum of the first and second sections. Filter according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wrap surrounding the first section is a cap wrap. Filter according to Claim 12, characterized in that the cap wrapper has a basis weight of less than 50 g / m 2. Filter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cylindrical element of the first section comprises cellulose acetate. Filter according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one additional filter section at the end of the filter tobacco cylinder. Smoking article, characterized in that it comprises a filter as defined in any one of claims 1-15. 17. Filter, characterized in that it is substantially in the manner described above with reference to the attached figures. 18. Article for smoking, characterized in that it is substantially in the manner described above with reference to the accompanying figures.