JP5097125B2 - Smoking article with inner wrap - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a cigarette comprising a tobacco rod having a smokable filler material contained within a circumscribing outer wrapping material, and one or more inner wrapping strips positioned between the tobacco rod and the outer wrapping material and extending longitudinally along the tobacco rod. The inner wrapping strips comprise a binder in the form of an alkali metal salt and comprise a total alkali metal content of at least about 30,000 mug based on the total weight of the inner wrapping strips. The total alkali metal content can be derived from the alkali metal salt binder alone or a combination of the alkali metal salt binder and a second alkali metal additive. The inner wrapping strips can exhibit an ignition temperature of at least about 625° C. and may comprise 1 to about 8 strips, each strip having a width of about 2 to about 10 mm.

Description

  The present invention relates to tobacco products such as smoking articles, and in particular to cigarettes.

  Popular smoking articles such as cigarettes have a substantially cylindrical rod-shaped structure and are filled (eg, in the form of cut stuffing), rolls, or columns, such as chopped tobacco surrounded by paper wrap. To form a so-called “smokable rod” or “tobacco rod”. Typically, a cigarette has a cylindrical filter element aligned with the tobacco rod in an end-to-end relationship. Typically, the filter element comprises a plasticized cellulose acetate fiber bundle surrounded by a paper material known as a “plug wrap”, using an enveloping wrapping material known as “chip paper”. Attached to one end of the tobacco rod. It has also become desirable to perforate the tip material and plug wrap to effect dilution of the mainstream smoke drawn by the ambient air. A description of cigarettes and their various components is set forth in Davis et al. (Eds.) Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology (1999). Cigarettes are used by smokers by igniting one end and burning a tobacco rod. The smoker then receives mainstream smoke in his / her mouth by aspirating the opposite end of the cigarette (eg, the filter end).

  Numerous references have proposed various types of cigarettes with various types of paper wrapping materials. For example, Schweitzer US Pat. No. 1,909,924, Weinert US Pat. No. 4,489,650, Cohn US Pat. No. 3,030,963, Cohn US Pat. No. 4,146,040, Simon U.S. Pat. No. 4,489,738, Durocher U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,345, Dashley U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,647, Milford et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,675, Perfetti et al. US Pat. No. 4,924,888, Rogers et al. US Pat. No. 5,143,098, Goodman US Pat. No. 4,998,543, Gentry US Pat. No. 5,220,930, and Arzonico. U.S. Pat. No. 5,271,419. Some paper wrap materials are so-called “banded papers” and have a division defined by the composition, location, and properties of the various materials within these wrap materials. Numerous references contain disclosures that suggest the structure of various banded winding materials. For example, Seaman US Pat. No. 1,996,002, Seaman US Pat. No. 2,013,508, Norman et al. US Pat. No. 4,452,259, Baldwin et al. US Pat. No. 5,417,228. See, Peterson et al., US Pat. No. 5,878,753, Peterson et al., US Pat. No. 5,878,754, Bokelman et al., US Pat. No. 6,198,537, and PCTWO 02/37991. Methods have also been proposed for producing banded-type winding materials. For example, Hampl, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,775, U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,095 to Allen et al. And PCTWO02 / 44700 and PCTWO02 / 055294. Some references further describe banded paper having sections of paper, fibrous cellulosic material or particulate material adhered to a paper fabric. For example, Myracle, Jr. US Pat. No. 5,191,906, Baldwin et al. US Pat. No. 5,263,999, Baldwin et al. US Pat. No. 5,417,228, Collins et al. US Pat. No. 5,450,863, And U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,613 to Suzuki. See also Crooks et al. US Pat. No. 6,609,999, which is incorporated herein by reference.

  Representative that regenerated tobacco material has been used as a wrapping material, particularly as an inner wrapping material (eg, in an area superimposed with at least one additional layer of wrapping material) and useful as a wrapping material for a smokable rod Gentle et al., US Pat. No. 5,074,321, Arzonico et al., US Pat. No. 5,159,944, Raker, US Pat. No. 5,261,425, incorporated herein by reference. No. 5, Bowen US Pat. No. 5,462,073, and Bowen US Pat. No. 5,699,812.

  Recycled tobacco sheets, particularly cast regenerated tobacco sheets, have been proposed for use as discontinuous inner wraps for cigarettes as a means for changing the burning rate of cigarettes. Such sheet materials, smoking articles made therefrom, and methods of forming such sheet materials are described in US Pat. No. 6,705,325 to Hicks et al., US Pat. No. 6,827,087 to Wanna et al. No., and Monsalud, Jr. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0177856 and Wanna et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0056294, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  It would be desirable to provide cigarette manufacturers with a scheme or method for making cigarettes with controlled combustion characteristics resulting from changes in cigarette tobacco rod winding material.

  The present invention provides a cigarette or other smoking article that includes one or more inner wound strips disposed between a tobacco rod and an outer wound material surrounding the tobacco rod. The inner strip extends longitudinally along the tobacco rod and contributes to better control of the combustion characteristics of the smoking article. The inner strip includes a binder in the form of an alkali metal salt such as a sodium salt (eg, sodium alginate or sodium carboxymethylcellulose). Further, the inner wound strip of the present invention comprises a total alkali metal content of at least about 30,000 μg / g based on the total weight of the inner wound strip. More preferably, the total alkali metal content is at least about 32,000 μg / g, and most preferably at least about 34,000 μg / g or at least about 36,000 μg / g. It is believed that the increase in alkali metal content of the inner wound strip correlates with a higher self-extinguishing rate.

  The binder present in the inner wrap material may vary in concentration, but is usually present in an amount of about 2 to about 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the inner wrap strip. In certain preferred embodiments, the alkali metal salt binder is present in an amount of about 30 to about 40 weight percent.

  In one embodiment of the invention, the inner wound strip further comprises a second alkali metal additive, such as a second additive that increases the sodium content or other alkali metal content. Exemplary alkali metal additives include sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, sodium oxalate, sodium malate, sodium chloride, and sodium levinurate.

  The smoking article of the present invention preferably exhibits a minimum ignition temperature, such as an ignition temperature of at least about 625 ° C. In particularly preferred embodiments, the ignition temperature of the inner strip is at least about 650 ° C or at least about 675 ° C. It is believed that higher ignition temperatures correlate with improved performance to meet certain cigarette fire extinguishing criteria.

  The smoking article of the present invention may include one or more strips, preferably including a plurality of inner strips, each strip having a width of about 2 to about 10 mm, more preferably about 2 to. It has a width of about 6 mm. In some embodiments, the number of inner wraps may range from 1 to about 8, more preferably from 2 to about 5.

  To assist in understanding embodiments of the present invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. These drawings are illustrative only and should not be construed as limiting the invention.

(Details of the invention)
The invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth hereinafter, but rather those embodiments to which this disclosure applies. Supplied to meet possible legal requirements. Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout. As used in this specification and the claims, the singular forms “a” and “this” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a smoking article 10 in the form of a cigarette and having certain typical components of the smoking article of the present invention is shown. Cigarette 10 includes a generally cylindrical rod 12 of a fill or roll of smokable filler material contained within surrounding wrapping material 16. The rod 12 is conventionally referred to as a “cigarette rod”. The end of the tobacco rod 12 is open to expose the smokable filler material. Cigarette 10 is shown having a single band 22 (eg, a printed coating containing a film-forming agent such as starch, ethyl cellulose, or sodium alginate) that is optionally applied to the wound material 16, with the band extending along the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. Surround the cigarette rod in the crossing direction. That is, band 22 provides a transverse region relative to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette. The band 22 may be printed on the inner surface of the wrapping material (i.e. facing the smokable filler material) or, preferably, on the outer surface of the wrapping material. This cigarette may have a wound material with one band optionally attached, but with a wound material having two, three, or more additional bands spaced apart. This cigarette may have.

  One end of the tobacco rod 12 is an ignition end 18 and the other end is disposed on the filter element 20. Filter element 20 is positioned adjacent one end of tobacco rod 12 such that the filter element and tobacco rod are in end-to-end relationship, and preferably are axially aligned against each other. The filter element 20 may have a generally cylindrical shape, and this diameter may be essentially equal to the diameter of the tobacco rod. The end of the filter element 20 allows the passage of air and smoke through it.

  In use, the smoker uses a match or cigarette lighter to ignite the ignition end 18 of the cigarette 10. As such, the tobacco rod 12 begins to burn. The mouth end of the cigarette 10 is placed on the lips of the smoker. Thermal decomposition products (eg, tobacco smoke components) created by the combustion of smokable material pass through the cigarette 10 and are drawn through the filter element 26 into the smoker's mouth.

  Filter element 20 includes a filter material 26 surrounded by a layer of outer plug wrap 28 along the outer periphery or longitudinal axis periphery. Filter element 20 may include one or more filter sections and may include an adsorbent material therein. Production of filter rods, filter sections, and filter elements, and the manufacture of cigarettes from these filter rods, filter sections, and filter elements have been used to provide cigarette filters, multi-section cigarette filters, and filtered cigarettes It may be implemented using a type of rod forming unit. Multi-section cigarette filter rods are available from Hauni-Werke Korber & Co., Hamburg, Germany. It may be manufactured using a cigarette filter rod making device available from KG under the trade name Mulfi. Another representative type of commercially available filter rod making instrument that can be suitably modified for use is Hauni-Werke Korber & Co. Includes KDF-2 units available from KG, and Decouple units available from Decouple, France.

  The vented or air diluted smoking article may be provided with optional air dilution means, such as a series of perforations 30 each extending through the plug wrap 28. Optionally drilled perforations 30 can be made by various techniques known to those skilled in the art, such as laser drilling techniques. In some cases, so-called off-line air dilution techniques (through the use of porous paper plug wrap and pre-perforated chip paper) may be used.

  The dimensions of the representative cigarette 10 may vary. Preferred cigarettes are rod-shaped and may have a diameter of about 7.5 mm (eg, from about 20 mm to about 27 mm, often from about 22.5 mm to about 25 mm), from about 70 mm to about 120 mm, often from about 80 mm. It may have a total length of about 100 mm. The length of the filter element 20 may vary. Typical filter elements may have a length of about 15 mm to about 40 mm, often about 20 mm to about 35 mm.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the cigarette 10 further includes one or more inner wound strips 34 between the tobacco rod and the outer wound paper 16. The inner strip 34 preferably extends along the entire length of the tobacco rod. The strips 34 or more of the inner wound strips in the cigarette 10 of the present invention may extend continuously around the entire circumference of the tobacco rod. However, it is preferred that the inner wound strip 34 is intermittent. In one embodiment, the inner wound strip 34 includes 1 to about 8 strips spaced along the periphery of the tobacco rod. The exact location of the individual strips 34 may vary, but it is preferable to space one or more of the inner strips away from the cigarette closure 38 as shown in FIG.

  A cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3 where two inner wound strips 34 are visible between the tobacco rod 12 and the outer winding 16. FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in which four inner wrap strips (designated 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d) are used. As shown in FIG. 4, before installing the outer wrap 16 around the tobacco rod 12, inner wrap strips may be spaced apart on the surface of the outer wrap. The use of the inner strip 34 may be incorporated into the cigarette manufacturing process using, for example, the instrument and method described in US Pat. No. 6,705,325 to Hicks et al.

  The inner strip 34 is preferably composed of regenerated tobacco sheet material formed using any of a variety of regenerated tobacco processes known in the art, such as papermaking and cast sheet processes. Preferred embodiments of the inner wound strip include binder material, tobacco material, wood pulp, glycerin, and water. In particular, a preferred embodiment of the inner strip 34 is about 2 to about 40 percent binder, about 25 to about 65 percent tobacco material (eg, tobacco scrap or tobacco dust) based on the total weight of the inner strip. About 10 to about 15 percent wood pulp, about 13 to about 17 percent glycerin, and balanced water. When a production cast sheet method is used, the binder content is usually from about 10 to about 40 weight percent, more preferably from about 30 to about 40 weight percent. If a papermaking process is utilized, the binder content may be as low as about 2 to about 5 weight percent.

  Recycled sheet material used as the inner winding material is described in Monsalud, Jr. Preferably, it is constructed using a cast sheet process, such as the process described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0177856. This process generally involves forming a mixture having the composition described above, and optionally, for example, removing the mixture from about 140 ° F. (60 ° C.) to about 140 ° F. for a time period of about 30 minutes to about 60 minutes. Including a step of heating to a temperature of 200 ° F. (93 ° C.). This heating step may further include the addition of about 1.5 to about 3.5 weight percent potassium hydroxide, based on the weight of the tobacco material, which may facilitate the release of pectin from the tobacco material. it can. The release of pectin is expected to be desirable because it helps maintain proper adhesion within the cast sheet material. Following the optional heating step and treatment with potassium hydroxide, the recycled sheet mixture is poured onto a steel belt and dried to a desired moisture level, such as about 8 to about 16% moisture. After this, the dried intimate sheet material may be taken on a roll and cut to the desired width.

  The width of the inner strip 34 used in the present invention may vary. Typically, the width of each strip is between about 2 mm and about 10 mm, more preferably between about 2 mm and about 6 mm. Although the overall thickness of the inner wrap material may vary, the inner wrap strip is typically thicker than the outer wrap 16. An example thickness ranges from about 80 to about 120 μm.

  The inner strip 34 of the present invention is characterized by the use of a binder in the form of an alkali metal salt, such as an alkali metal salt of alginic acid or a cellulose derivative (eg, carboxymethylcellulose). Examples of alkali metal salt binders include sodium alginate, potassium alginate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof. The term “alkali metal” is used herein to refer to Group IA metal elements of the Periodic Table of Elements and includes lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.

  The use of an alkali metal salt binder contributes to the desired total level of alkali metal in the inner wrap strip 34. In order to achieve the desired self-extinguishing rate according to certain inspection criteria in smoking articles incorporating these strips, elevated alkali metal levels within the inner strip 34 are considered desirable. As illustrated by the examples described below, as the alkali metal content of the inner strip 34 increases, the self-extinguishing rate according to certain inspection criteria also increases. Embodiments of the inner wrap strip 34 of the present invention are at least about 30,000 μg / g, more preferably at least about 32,000, most preferably at least about 34,000 or at least based on the total weight of the inner wrap strip. A total alkali metal content of about 36,000 μg / g is indicated. Preferred embodiments when expressed in terms of weight percentage based on the total weight of the inner strip are at least about 3 percent, more preferably at least about 3.2 percent, and most preferably at least about 3.4 or at least about 3 Includes a total alkali metal content of 6 weight percent. In one preferred embodiment, the total alkali metal content is from about 30,000 to about 50,000 μg / g (about 3 to about 5 weight percent), more preferably from about 32,000 to about 40,000 μg / g (about 3.2 to about 4 weight percent).

  Although the desired total alkali metal content of the inner strip 34 may be reached using an alkali metal salt binder alone, in certain embodiments, the alkali metal salt binder is still alkalinized into the inner strip. Supplemented with one or more alkali metal additives that contribute to the metal content. Illustrative additives include sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, sodium oxalate, sodium malate, sodium chloride, and sodium levulinate. The exact amount of the second alkali metal additive added to the inner wrapping strip will depend on the amount of alkali metal salt binder present and the desired total alkali metal content. In one embodiment, the second alkali metal additive is present at a concentration of about 1 to about 20 weight percent, more preferably about 1 to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of strip 34.

  The inner wrapping strip 34 of the present invention preferably exhibits a high ignition temperature that is considered to correlate conveniently with a high self-extinguishing rate when measured using certain inspection criteria as described below. In a preferred embodiment, the inner wound strip 34 of the present invention exhibits an ignition temperature of at least about 625 ° C, more preferably at least about 650 ° C, and most preferably at least about 675 ° C. The examples attached hereto show that the inner wrapping material 34 having a higher ignition temperature also exhibits a higher self-extinguishing rate according to certain inspection criteria.

The overall density of the inner strip 34 may vary, but typically the basis weight of the inner strip is between about 70 and about 125 g / m ² , preferably between about 80 and about 100 g / m ² . The resulting inner strip 34 typically has a porosity of less than about 10 Coresta, more preferably less than about 8 Coresta, and most preferably less than about 5 Coresta. The porosity of the inner wound material 34 is preferably very low, and most preferably the inner wound strip has essentially no gas transport properties (ie, essentially zero diffusion capacity).

  Generally described in the following references: US Pat. No. 6,705,325 to Hicks et al., US Pat. No. 6,827,087 to Wanna et al. And US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0056294 to Wanna et al. The inner wrap materials from which smoking articles are made and the methods of their manufacture may find use in certain embodiments of the invention.

  Certain preferred inner strips 34 used in practicing the present invention are useful for the manufacture of cigarettes designed to exhibit a reduced ignition tendency. That is, a cigarette that incorporates some inner wrapping material, when placed on a combustible material, tends to self-extinguish before burning the substrate. Of particular interest are cigarettes with tobacco rods manufactured using the appropriate number and structure of inner wrap strips 34 and sufficient sodium or other alkali to have the ability to meet certain cigarette fire extinguishing criteria. Has a metal content. Some cigarettes of the present invention having tobacco rods manufactured using the inner wound strips 34 of the present invention are whatman no. Inspected cigarettes when tested using the procedure described in ASTM E2187-02b, Standard Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Cigarettes (ASTM Int. 2002) using 10 layers of 2 filter paper Greater than about 50 percent, preferably greater than about 75 percent, more preferably greater than about 80 percent, most preferably greater than about 85 percent, and in some cases greater than about 90 or about 95 percent. Meet the criteria that require top or near 100 percent fire fighting. This percentage is also referred to herein as the “self-extinguishing rate”.

  Smokable materials and other attendant materials useful for practicing certain aspects of the invention may be different. A smokable material is a material that can be incorporated into a smokable section or rod and that can supply a mass and most of several areas within the smokable section. Smokable materials experience several types of destruction in the context of normal use of smoking articles in which they are incorporated. The destruction of the smokable material results, at least in part, from the thermal decomposition of at least some components of the smokable material, resulting in the formation of an aerosol having a form normally characterized as “smoke”. For example, smokable materials that incorporate tobacco material are intended to burn to produce tobacco smoke, or in other words to undergo pyrolysis. The choice of tobacco type and tobacco blend can determine the chemical composition of the aerosol produced when the tobacco material or blend of tobacco materials is burned, and the sensory and sensory characteristics. The tobacco material described below may be used in the tobacco rod 12 portion of the smoking article of the present invention or as the tobacco portion of the recycled sheet material used to form the inner wound strip 34.

  It is most highly preferred that the smokable material of the smokable section incorporate some form of tobacco. Preferred smokable materials consist predominantly of several forms of tobacco based on the dry weight of these materials. That is, what is the majority of the dry weight of these materials, and what is the majority of the weight of the mixture incorporating these materials (material blends, or materials with additives that are added or otherwise incorporated in) May be given by some form of tobacco. For example, these materials are processed tobacco incorporating small amounts of non-tobacco filler materials (eg, calcium carbonate particles, carbonaceous materials, grains, or wood pulp) and / or binders (eg, guar gum, sodium alginate, or ammonium alginate). And / or blends of these materials may incorporate tobacco substitutes or bulking agents. These materials, and blends incorporating these materials, frequently come from tobacco that exceeds about 70 percent on a dry weight basis, based on the combined weight of tobacco, non-tobacco fillers, and non-tobacco substitutes or extenders. Often more than about 80 percent tobacco, and generally more than about 90 percent tobacco. These materials may also be substantially all tobacco materials and may not incorporate any non-tobacco stuffing, substitutes or bulking agents.

  The smokable material may be treated with types of tobacco additives such as casing and / or dressing components conventionally used for cigarette manufacture. See, for example, Wochnowski US Pat. No. 3,419,015, Berndt et al. US Pat. No. 4,054,145, Burcham, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,619, Watson U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,416, Strang et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,842, and Martin U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,320. Please refer. Typical casing materials include water, sugars and syrups (eg sucrose, glucose, and corn high fructose syrup), wetting agents (eg glycerin or propylene glycol), and flavorings (eg cocoa and licorice). These additive components also include surface layer dressing materials (for example, flavor substances such as menthol). See, for example, Mays et al. US Pat. No. 4,449,541. The additive may also be added to the smokable material using the device described in Lettau US Pat. No. 4,995,405, or the type of device available as the Menthol Application System MAS from Kohl Machinenbau GmbH. It is still possible. The selection of specific casing and surface dressing components depends on factors such as the desired sensory characteristics, and the selection and use of these components will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. Gutcho's Tobacco Flavoring Substances and Methods, Noyes Data Corp. (1972) and Leffingwell et al., Tobacco Flavoring for Smoke Products (1972).

  Smokable materials are typically used in a form and manner that is conventional for the manufacture of smoking articles such as cigarettes. These materials may incorporate tobacco chopped or particulate fragments (eg, as flakes and / or petiole) and / or these materials may be processed forms of tobacco material. For example, these materials are in the form of cut padding (eg, about 1/10 to about 1/60 inch wide, preferably about 1/20 to about 1/35 inch wide, and about 1/8 to about 1 Cigarette stuffed pieces or strands cut to a length of 3 inches, usually from 1/4 inch to about 1 inch. In some cases, although less preferred, these materials, such as processed tobacco materials, can be used as longitudinally extending yarns, as sheets formed into the desired structure, or as compressed or extruded pieces formed into the desired shape. May be used.

  Tobacco materials include various types of tobacco, such as flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, oriental or Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark fired tobacco and rusty tobacco, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos, or blends of these May be included or derived from these. A description of the various types of tobacco, growth practices, harvest practices, and conservation practices is set forth in Davis et al. (Ed.), Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology (1999). See also Lawson et al. US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0084056. Most preferably, the tobacco material has been properly stored and aged.

  Normally, tobacco materials are used in so-called “blended” forms. For example, one popular tobacco blend, commonly referred to as an “American blend,” includes a mixture of flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, and oriental tobacco. In many cases, such blends are processed tobacco stalks (eg, cut and rolled, squeezed and expanded, or cut and inflated stalks), expanded tobacco (eg, in the form of cut stuffing). A tobacco material having a processed form such as expanded ice (such as dry ice expanded tobacco (DIET)). It is also possible that the tobacco material has the form of a regenerated tobacco (for example, a regenerated tobacco manufactured using a papermaking or cast sheet type process). Tobacco regeneration processes traditionally convert tobacco parts that would normally be wasted into commercially useful forms. For example, tobacco stalks, tobacco recycle pieces, and tobacco dust can be used to produce a very uniform and consistent processed recycled tobacco. The exact amount of each type of tobacco in the tobacco blend used for the manufacture of a particular cigarette brand may vary and is a design choice and depends on factors such as the desired sensory characteristics. For example, Tobacco Encyclopedia, Voges (eds.), Pages 44-45 (1984); Brown's The Design of Cigarettes, 3rd edition, page 43 (1990), and Davis et al. (Eds.) Tobacco Production, Chem. (1999). Various representative tobacco types, tobacco processing types, tobacco blend types, cigarette components and ingredients, and tobacco rod construction are also disclosed in Lawson et al. US Pat. No. 4,836,224, Perfetti et al. US Pat. No. 4 No. 4,924,883, US Pat. No. 4,924,888 to Peretti et al., US Pat. No. 5,056,537 to Brown et al., US Pat. No. 5,159,942 to Brinkley et al., US Pat. US Pat. No. 5,220,930, Blackley et al. US Pat. No. 5,360,023, Young et al. US Pat. No. 5,714,844, Dominguez et al. US Pat. No. 6,730,832, Shafer et al. US Patent 6,701,936, Li et al. US Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0075 No. 93, Li et al. US Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0131859, Lawson et al. US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0084056, Perfetti et al. US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0255965, Crooks et al. US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0066984, US Patent Publication No. 2005/0066986 to Nestor et al., Bereman PCTWO 02/37990, and Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol. 39, pages 11-17 (1997), which are incorporated herein by reference.

  The outer wound material 16 of the tobacco rod 12 can have a wide range of compositions and properties. Selection of a particular winding material will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art of cigarette design and manufacture. The outer wrapping material is preferably a paper material, such as the type of paper material commonly used in cigarette manufacture. The outer wrapping material may be constructed of a material such that the wrapping material does not receive visible soiling as a result of contact with components of the smokable material (eg, aerosol forming material), or may be appropriately processed. . The porosity of the wound material may vary, frequently between about 5 CORESTA units and about 100 CORESTA units, often between 10 CORESTA units and about 90 CORESTA units, and frequently between about 20 CORESTA units and about 80 CORESTA units. Between. Illustrative types of wrapping materials, wrapping material components, and processed wrapping materials are disclosed in White et al. US Pat. No. 5,105,838, Arzonico et al. US Pat. No. 5,271,419, Gentry US Pat. No. 5,220,930, US Pat. No. 6,874,508 to Shafer et al., US Pat. No. 6,908,874 to Woodhead et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0134631 to Crooks et al., Hampl, Jr. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0005947, Hampl, Jr. US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0005947, Ashcraft et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0016556, Fitzgerald et al., US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0076929, Fournier et al., PCT WO 01/08514, Hajarigol et al. 043450, and Rasouli et al., WO 2005/039326, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. A typical winding material is R.I. J. et al. Reynolds Tobacco Company Grades 119, 170, 419, 453, 454, 456, 465, 466, 490, 525, 535, 557, 652, 664, 672, 676, and 680 are commercially available from Schweitzer-Mudit International. Colored wrapping material (eg brown paper) may be used.

  It is possible that both the outer wrapping material and the inner wrapping strips contain additives or fillers embedded or dispersed therein. Illustrative fillers or additives are essentially in the form of water-insoluble particles. This filler or additive material may incorporate inorganic components. The filler or additive may include a catalyst or adsorbent material capable of adsorbing or reacting with the vapor phase component of mainstream smoke. Calcium salts are particularly preferred. One illustrative filler material has the form of calcium carbonate, most preferably the calcium carbonate is used in particulate form. See, for example, Hampl US Pat. No. 4,805,644, Sanders US Pat. No. 5,161,551, Baldwin et al. US Pat. No. 5,263,500, and PCTWO 01 / 48,316. Other filler or additive materials include aggregated calcium carbonate particles, calcium tartrate particles, magnesium oxide particles, iron oxide particles, magnesium hydroxide gel, magnesium carbonate type materials, clays, diatomaceous earth materials, titanium dioxide particles, gamma alumina materials and Contains calcium sulfate particles. Fillers may be selected to impart certain advantageous properties to the wound material, such as improved combustion characteristics or ability to adjust mainstream smoke characteristics and content (by adsorption of certain compounds).

  The structure and contents of the filter element 20 may be different. Exemplary filter elements are Brown's The Design of Cigarettes, 3rd edition (1990); Davis et al. (Ed.) Tobacco Production, Chemistry and Technology, 1999; Berger, U.S. Pat. U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,809, Barnes et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,714, Lawrence et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,990, Thesing et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,829, Raker. U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,814, Jones, Jr. U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,320, U.S. Pat. No. 5,076,295 of Saintings et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,839 of Jakob et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,834 of Saintinting et al. White et al., US Pat. No. 5,105,838, Arzonico et al., US Pat. No. 5,271,419, Perfetti et al., US Pat. No. 5,137,034, Gentry et al., US Pat. No. 5,396, 909, Koller et al. US Pat. No. 5,595,218, Banerjee et al. US Pat. No. 5,718,250, Lesser et al. US Pat. No. 6,530,377, Cerami et al. US Pat. 615,842, MacAdam et al. US Pat. No. 6,631,722, Lesser et al. US Pat. No. 6,7. No. 2,953, Lilly, Jr. U.S. Patent No. 6,848,450, Dube et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0261807, Fournier et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0133052, and Gonterman filed July 29, 2004. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 901,662, which is incorporated herein by reference. Exemplary filter materials may be made from fiber bundle materials (eg, cellulose acetate or polypropylene fiber bundles) or gathered fiber materials (eg, paper, recycled tobacco, cellulose acetate, polypropylene, or polyester gather fibers). .

  The plug wrap 28 may be different. See, for example, Martin US Pat. No. 4,174,719. The plug wrap is usually a porous or non-porous paper material. Plug wrap materials are commercially available. Illustrative porous plug wrap papers are available from Schweitzer-Mudit International as Poroprap Plug Wrap 17-M1, 33-M1, 45-M1, 65-M9, 95-M9, 150-M4, 260-M4, and 260-M4T Is possible. The nonporous plug wrap exhibits a porosity of less than about 10 CORESTA units, preferably less than 5 CORESTA units. Illustrative non-porous plug wrap paper is available from Olsany Facility (OP Paprina) of Ref. No. It is available as 646 Grade. The plug wrap paper may in particular be coated with a layer of film-forming material on the surface facing the filter material. Such coatings are supplied using suitable polymeric film formers (eg ethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose mixed with calcium carbonate, or so-called lip coating compositions of the type commonly used for cigarette manufacture). May be. In some cases, a plastic film (eg, polypropylene film) may be used as the plug wrap material. For example, Treofan Germany GmbH & Co. Nonporous polypropylene materials available from KG as ZNA-20 and ZNA-25 may be used as plug wrap materials.

  For cigarettes of the present invention that are air diluted or ventilated, the amount or degree of air dilution or aeration may vary. Frequently, the amount of air dilution in an air diluted cigarette is greater than about 10 percent, generally greater than about 20 percent, often greater than about 30 percent, and sometimes greater than about 40 percent. Typically, the upper level for air dilution for an air diluted cigarette is less than about 80 percent and often less than about 70 percent. As used herein, the term “air dilution” refers to the volume of air drawn through the cigarette and through the air dilution means for the total volume of air and aerosol drawn through the most mouth end of the cigarette. Is the ratio (expressed as a percentage). Higher air dilution levels can serve to reduce the efficiency of aerosol-forming material transfer into the mainstream aerosol.

  Preferred cigarettes of the present invention exhibit desirable resistance to retraction. For example, an example cigarette exhibits a pressure drop between about 50 and about 200 mm water pressure at an air flow rate of 17.5 cc / sec. Preferred cigarettes exhibit a water pressure drop value of between about 60 mm and about 180, more preferably between about 70 mm and about 150 mm at 17.5 cc / sec. Usually, the pressure drop value for cigarettes is Filtrona Instruments and Automation Ltd. Measured using the Filtrona Cigarette Test Station (CTS series) available from or Quality Test Module (QTM) available from the Marine Division of Molins, PLC.

  The cigarettes of the present invention produce an acceptable number of doses when smoked. Such cigarettes typically give more than about 6 doses per cigarette and generally more than about 8 doses when machine smoked under FTC smoking conditions. Such cigarettes typically give less than about 15 garments per cigarette and generally less than about 12 garments when smoked under FTC smoking conditions. The FTC smoking condition consists of a 35 ml dose of 2 seconds duration divided by 58 seconds of smoldering.

  The cigarette of the present invention produces a mainstream aerosol when smoked. The amount of mainstream aerosol produced per cigarette may vary. When smoked under FTC smoking conditions, an example cigarette yields an amount of FTC “tar”, which is usually at least about 1 mg, often at least about 3 mg, frequently at least about 5 mg. When smoked under FTC smoking conditions, an example cigarette produces a certain amount of FTC “tar”, which usually does not exceed about 20 mg, often does not exceed about 15 mg, and frequently does not exceed about 12 mg. .

(Experiment)
The following examples are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise stated, all percentages and percentages are by weight. In Example 3, the coal temperature of various cigarettes is measured. The coal temperature of smoking articles is described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0066986 to Nestor et al., The Chemistry of Tobacco Smoke (1972) of Schmeltz (ed); Baker Prog. Ener. Combust. Sci. 7: 135-153 (1981), Proceedings of the International Conference on the Physical and Chemical Processes, Occurring in a Burning Cigarette (April 26-29, 1987); 398-439 (1999); and Lyman et al. Tabakforsch. Int. 20: 381-388 (2003), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  Recycled tobacco cast sheet material is produced with a target sodium alginate content ranging from 15% to 35%. Cigarettes are made with each sheet material with two separate inner wrap strips 4 mm wide. These strips are placed along the tobacco rod facing each other and oriented 90 degrees from the side closure. All other cigarette structure details are kept constant.

  The sheet material is tested for sodium content and ignition temperature (measured by differential scanning calorimetry). The self-extinguishing (SE) rate is measured by the ASTM-E-2187-02b test procedure for completed cigarettes (20 cigarettes per test). The results of these tests are described in Table 1 below and show a very strong correlation between the sodium content of the separated inner wrap strip and the self-extinguishing rate of the cigarette. That is, the self-extinguishing rate increases as the sodium content increases. The results in Table 1 also show a strong correlation between the sodium content of the sheet material and the ignition temperature. This suggests that a sheet with a high ignition temperature produces a high self-extinguishing rate.

  This experiment determines whether the “alginate anion” content is responsible for some (or all) of the self-extinguishing rate variation found in Example 1. In this experiment, the sheet material is made of 15% sodium alginate with the addition of 1.5%, 2.5%, and 3.5% sodium phosphate. The resulting material is tested for sodium content and cigarettes are made as described above. The results of these tests are described in Table 2 below and show a small increase in self-extinguishing rate with the amount of added sodium phosphate. This suggests that the sodium content of the sheet material modifies the self-extinguishing rate of the cigarette. Analysis of the sodium content and self-extinguishing data in Tables 1 and 2 resulted in acceptable cigarette self-extinguishing rates, and therefore separate inner wraps to comply reliably with current rules for low ignition tendency cigarettes. This suggests that the sodium content of must exceed about 30,000 μg / g. The required sodium content may be obtained by the use of sodium alginate, other sodium salts, or combinations thereof.

  An experiment is conducted to examine the relationship between the cigarette coal temperature and the ignition temperature of the separated inner wrap. For this study, six cigarettes were selected for testing, and these included the five listed in Table 1. Three of these have a low self-extinguishing rate (18% -30%) and a low ignition temperature (558 ° C-603 ° C) of the separated inner wrap. The other three have a high self-extinguishing rate (85% -100%) and a high ignition temperature (649 ° C.-686 ° C.) of the separated inner wrap. A comparative cigarette without a separate inner wrap is also tested.

  Cigarette coal temperature is measured using a thermal imaging system (Agema Thermovision) that is suspended in the air and includes an infrared camera during the smoldering on an ASTM test substrate (10 layers of Whatman filter paper). The The results of these measurements are summarized in Table 3 below. As is apparent from the data in Table 3, the coal temperature is higher during free air smoldering than during smoldering on ASTM substrates. This indicates that cigarette contact with the substrate results in a reduced coal temperature due to either the heat sink effect or a reduced air flow to the coal, or a combination of these effects. During smoldering on ASTM substrates, the coal temperature of cigarettes with a low self-extinguishing rate is 98 ° -134 ° C. below the ignition temperature of the sheet material. The coal temperature of a cigarette with a high self-extinguishing rate is 234 ° C-338 ° C below the ignition temperature of the sheet material.

  These data suggest that the sheet material used in cigarettes with a high self-extinguishing rate is likely not to ignite during smoldering. A survey of cigarette ash shows a separate inner wrap that is carbonized but remains substantially intact in examples with high self-extinguishing rates. Cigarette ash with a low self-extinguishing rate contained no discernable separate inner wrap. This suggests that providing a separate inner wrap material that does not ignite during the smoldering condition is important to obtain a high cigarette self-extinguishing rate. These data also provide evidence of a strong correlation between sodium content, ignition temperature, and SE rate.

  Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention described herein will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a smoking article having the form of a cigarette, showing cigarette smokable material, outer wound material parts, and filter elements. 1 is a perspective view of a smoking article having the form of a cigarette, the smoking article including at least one inner wrap strip of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cigarette of FIG. 2 taken along line A-A illustrating the presence of two inner wound strips according to the present invention. FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an outer wrapping material configured to surround a tobacco rod and a plurality of inner wrap strips placed thereon prior to application of the wrapping material to the tobacco rod.

Claims (25)

(A) a tobacco rod having a smokable filler material contained in an enveloping outer wound material; and
(B) including one or more inner wound strips disposed between the tobacco rod and the outer wound material and extending longitudinally along the tobacco rod;
Said one or more inner winding strips tobacco in the form of a mixture including reconstituted tobacco sheet material of the binder and the second alkali metal additive in the form of alkali metal salts, as well as the one or more inner A cigarette wherein the wound strip comprises a total alkali metal content of at least about 30,000 μg / g based on the total weight of the inner wound strip.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the total alkali metal content of the one or more inner wraps is at least about 32,000 μg / g.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the one or more inner wrap strips have a total alkali metal content of at least about 34,000 μg / g.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the total alkali metal content of the one or more inner wrap strips is at least about 36,000 μg / g.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the binder is an alkali metal salt of alginic acid or a cellulose derivative or a mixture thereof.   6. The cigarette of claim 5, wherein the binder is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, potassium alginate, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and mixtures thereof.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein a binder is present in the one or more inner wrap strips in an amount of about 2 to about 40 weight percent, based on the total weight of the inner wrap strip.   8. The cigarette of claim 7, wherein a binder is present in the one or more inner wrap strips in an amount of at least about 30 to about 40 weight percent.   The second alkali metal additive is selected from the group consisting of sodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium acetate, sodium oxalate, sodium malate, sodium chloride, and sodium levinurate; The cigarette of claim 1.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the inner strip has an ignition temperature of at least about 625 ° C.   The cigarette of claim 10, wherein the inner wrapping strip has an ignition temperature of at least about 650 ° C.   The cigarette of claim 11, wherein the inner wound strip has an ignition temperature of at least about 675 ° C. Inner winding strips are wood pulp, glycerin, and further comprises water, cigarette of claim 1. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the inner strip has a basis weight of about 70 to about 125 g / m ² . Inner winding strips having from about 80 basis weight of about 100 g / ^{m 2,} cigarette of claim 14.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the inner strip has a porosity of less than about 10 Coresta.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the one or more inner wrap strips includes from 1 to about 8 strips, each strip having a width of from about 2 to about 10 mm.   18. The cigarette of claim 17, wherein the one or more inner wrap strips include 2 to about 5 strips, each strip having a width of about 2 to about 6 mm.   The cigarette of claim 1, further comprising a filter element connected to the tobacco rod at one end of the tobacco rod.   The amount of alkali metal salt binder and second alkali metal additive is selected to provide a total alkali metal content of at least about 32,000 μg / g based on the total weight of the inner wrap strip. 1 cigarette.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the inner wrapping strip comprises an amount of alkali metal sufficient to allow the cigarette to exhibit a self-extinguishing rate of at least 75 percent in accordance with ASTM-E-2187-02b.   The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the second alkali metal additive is present in the inner wrap strip in an amount of about 1 to about 20 weight percent, based on the total weight of the inner wrap strip.   23. The cigarette of claim 22, wherein a second alkali metal additive is present in the inner wrap strip in an amount of about 1 to about 10 weight percent, based on the total weight of the inner wrap strip. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein the inner wrapping strip comprises an amount of alkali metal sufficient to allow the cigarette to exhibit a self-extinguishing rate of at least 90 percent in accordance with ASTM-E-2187-02b. The inner strip is bonded in the form of about 25 to about 65 percent tobacco, about 10 to about 15 percent wood pulp, about 13 to about 17 percent glycerin, about 2 to about 40 percent alkali metal salt. The cigarette of claim 1 comprising a mixture of an agent, from about 1 to about 20 percent of a second alkali metal additive, and water.

Images