PT2175749E - Multi-component filter for a smoking article - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION " MULTICOMPONENT FILTER FOR SMOKING ARTICLE " The present invention relates to a multi-component filter for a smoking article and a smoking article comprising such a multi-component filter.

The filter cigarettes typically comprise a chopped tobacco cylinder surrounded by a paper wrapper and a cylindrical filter aligned with respect to the ends with the tobacco rod wrapped and attached thereto by cigarette tip paper. Ventilation is normally provided in the form of circumferential perforations at a location along the filter to mix with ambient air the mainstream smoke produced during the combustion of the tobacco cylinder in the housing.

In conventional filter cigarettes, the filter generally consists of a cellulose acetate buffer wrapped in porous buffer housing. However, filter cigarettes with multicomponent filters are also known which comprise two or more segments of filtration material for the removal of particulates and gaseous components from mainstream smoke. To improve the taste of mainstream smoke, it is known to provide filter cigarettes with filters which include flavorings. In particular, it has been proposed to include flavorings in the form of plant material, such as leaves, seeds or roots, of one or more aromatic plants. In a known example, there is proposed a filter cigarette having a multi-component filter having an aroma release segment 1 containing a mixture of vegetable material, including licorice, ginger root and shredded peppermint.

Incorporation of tobacco plant material into the filter of a smoking article is also known. For example, WO-A-2006/090290 discloses a filter including tobacco granules within the filter. Tobacco granules optionally include flavorings, in addition to tobacco particles.

It would be desirable to provide a multicomponent filter for a smoking article which, in use, provides improved enhanced taste and in particular imparts an improved peppermint and menthol flavor to mainstream smoke as it is drawn from a cylinder of fumes through the filter by a consumer. In addition, it would be desirable to provide a multicomponent filter for a smoking article which comprises a flavor release segment that minimizes flavor loss during storage.

According to the present invention there is provided a multicomponent filter for a smoking article comprising: an end segment of the mouth; and a flavor release segment upstream of the mouth end segment. The flavor release segment comprises a stretch of fibrous filtration material, peppermint leaf distributed through the fibrous filtration material and a filter plasticizer applied to the fibrous filtration material. The amount of filter plasticizer in the flavor release segment is up to 5% by weight of the fibrous filtration material. 2

According to the invention there is also provided a smoking article comprising a cylinder of smokable material with a casing and a multi-component filter of the present invention connected to the cylinder of smokable material, preferably by cigarette butt paper. Preferably, the smoking article is a filter cigarette.

Throughout the description, the terms " upstream " and " downstream " are used to describe the relative positions of segments of the multicomponent filter of the invention relative to the direction of mainstream smoke drawn from a cylinder of smokable material through the multicomponent filter during use. For example, in the filter of the present invention, the aroma release segment is upstream of the mouth end segment, which means that mainstream smoke is drawn first through the aroma delivery segment and then through the end segment from the mouth. The term " filter plasticizer " refers to any compound suitable for use as a plasticizer in a conventional cigarette fibrous filter section. In conventional fibrous filter sections, the role of a filter plasticizer is to join the fibers of the strand so that the stiffness of the strand and hence its resistance to compression is increased. The plasticizer is typically a solvent for the fiber material and acts by softening the outer surfaces of the fibers such that they adhere to one another. The glycerol triacetate is usually used as the filter plasticizer for a continuous cellulose acetate stretch.

Preferably, the filter plasticizer used in the present invention is glycerol triacetate. 3 The term " peppermint leaf " is used to mean a material consisting of leaves of a peppermint plant which have preferably been cut or fragmented to provide a particulate material. The peppermint leaf is capable of releasing aroma into the main smoke stream drawn through the multicomponent filter. The aroma released from the peppermint leaf is provided by volatile compounds, such as oils, contained therein, which are volatilized while being smoked. The main smoke stream enriched with the volatile oils of the peppermint leaflet flows downstream through the mouth end segment of the multicomponent filter into the consumer's mouth.

Before smoking, the volatile oils remain trapped within the peppermint leaf. This advantageously ensures that the loss of aroma during storage of the multi-component filters and smoking articles according to the present invention is minimized and thus maximizes the release of aroma into the mainstream of smoking while smoking.

Preferably, the peppermint leaf in the flavor release segment is fragmented, cut off or otherwise reduced in size. More preferably, the peppermint leaf has a cut width between about 0.25 mm and about 3 mm. Most preferably, the peppermint leaf has a cut width between about 1 mm and about 2 mm.

Preferably, the peppermint leaf is dried to a moisture content of from about 8% to about 10%. 4

Preferably, the oil content of the peppermint leaf is at least about 0.6% by weight. The inclusion of peppermint leaf in the multi-component filter aroma segment according to the present invention advantageously provides an improved form of imparting peppermint and menthol aromas to the mainstream smoke of a smoking article. The smoking articles according to the present invention advantageously provide improved peppermint and menthol flavors compared to conventional menthol cigarettes.

In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate. Surprisingly, it has been found that the inclusion of peppermint and glycerol triacetate in the flavor release segment of multi-component filters and smoking articles in accordance with the present invention advantageously enhances the peppermint and menthol flavor provided by release of menthol and other volatile peppermint leaf oils. This is illustrated, for example, by the results presented in Table 1 below. Table 1 shows the amounts of specific flavoring compounds released into mainstream smoke from the peppermint leaf in the filter cigarette flavor release segment (Samples 1 and 3) according to

invention having the general construction shown in Figure 1. The flavor release segment consists of a continuous section of cellulose acetate with peppermint leaf and glycerol triacetate therein dispensed. Table 1 also shows the amounts of flavoring compounds released from the peppermint leaf on the filter cigarette flavor release segment (Samples 2 and 4) not according to the invention, having the same construction as Samples 1 and 3 , but wherein the flavor release segment does not contain glycerol triacetate. Each sample contains 40 mg of peppermint leaf. Not all compounds released from the peppermint leaf are measured.

Each of the samples is smoked under ISO conditions and the obtained smoke extracts are analyzed using a GC-MS method of monitoring individual ions in order to determine the levels of the volatile smoke compounds. A complete scanning analysis is performed with a scan range of 30-400 m / z (mass ratio for anion charge).

As can be seen from Table 1, the combination of glycerol triacetate and peppermint leaf in the flavor release segment of the filter cigarettes according to the present invention results in increased levels of flavoring compounds to be released from the peppermint leaf to the mainstream smoke when smoked, compared to the filter cigarettes not according to the invention, wherein the flavor release segment does not contain glycerol triacetate. 6

Table 1

Sample 1 Sample 2 Sample 3 Sample 4 Tar, mg / cigarette 1 1 6 6 Glycerol triacetate content of flavor release segment,% 5 0 6 0 Amount of menthol released to mainstream smoke when smoking, pg / cigarette 0.70 0.25 3.63 1.79 Amount of menthol released to the mainstream smoke when smoking, pg / cigarette 0.45 0.36 1.19 0.87 Amount of methyl acetate released to the mainstream smoke when smoking, pg / cigarette nd nd 0.187 0.052 Amount of neomentol released for mainstream smoke when smoking, pg / cigarette 0.050 0.018 0.254 0.124 Amount of α-pinene released into the main stream smoke when smoking, pg / cigarette nd nd 0.032 0.030 Amount of β-pinene released into the mainstream smoke when smoking, pg / cigarette nd nd 0.050 0.049 (nd = not determined)

During the smoking of a smoking article comprising a multicomponent filter according to the invention, wherein the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate, acetic acid and glycerin are released in the flavor release segment of the filter as a result of the hydrolysis of the triacetate of glycerol. Accordingly, the levels of acetic acid released in the filter when being smoked are significantly higher than for a smoking article not according to the invention, as illustrated by the results presented in Table 2, below. Table 2 shows the dimensions and properties of a filter cigarette (Sample 5) according to the present invention having the general construction shown in Figure 9. The end segment of the mouth of the filter cigarette consists of a continuous portion of cellulose and the flavor release segment consists of a continuous piece of cellulose acetate with peppermint leaf and glycerol triacetate therein dispensed. Table 2 also indicates the dimensions and properties of a filter cigarette (Sample 6) not according to the present invention having the same construction as Sample 5, but wherein the flavor release segment does not contain glycerol triacetate.

As can be seen from Table 2, the combination of glycerol triacetate and peppermint leaf in the flavor release segment of the filter cigarette multicomponent filter according to the present invention (Sample 5) results in a significantly increased level of acetic acid to be released in the filter compared to the filter cigarette not according to the present invention (Sample 6), wherein only the end segment of the mouth contains glycerol triacetate. 8

Table 2

Sample 5 Sample 6 Tar, mg / cigarette 6.1 6.1 Total RTD, rtm H20 93 92 Ventilation,% 35 36 Cigarette length, mm 84, 0 84.0 Length of mouth end segment, mm 15.0 15, 0 Length of flavor release segment, mm 12.0 12.0 RTD filter, mmH20 92.7 91.2 Glycerol triacetate content of mouth segment,% 7.0 7.0 Glycerol triacetate of the flavor release segment,% 5.0.0 Peppermint leaflet, mg 40.0 40.0 Acetic acid concentration, ppm (based on cigarette weight = 920 mg) 221 57

Preferably, the overall length of smoking articles according to the present invention is between about 70 mm and about 128 mm, more preferably about 84 mm.

Preferably, the outer diameter of multicomponent filters and smoking articles according to the present invention is between about 5 mm and 8.5 mm, more preferably about 7.9 mm.

Preferably, the overall length of multicomponent filters according to the present invention is between about 18 mm and about 36 mm, more preferably about 27 mm. 9

Preferably, the length of each individual segment of multicomponent filters according to the present invention is between about 5 mm and about 22 mm. The multi-component filter mouth end segment according to the present invention may, in some embodiments, advantageously prevent the peppermint leaf of the flavor release segment from reaching the consumer's mouth when smoking. Preferably, the mouth end segment comprises filtration material. More preferably, the mouth end segment comprises filtration material which has substantially no filtration efficiency of the particulate phase or very low filtration efficiency of the particulate phase. The end segment of the mouth may, for example, comprise cellulosic material, such as cellulose acetate or other suitable fibrous filtration material of low filtration efficiency.

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

The multicomponent filters according to the present invention may further comprise a cylinder end segment upstream of the aroma release segment. Preferably, the end segment of the cylinder comprises fibrous filtration material. The end segment of the cylinder may, for example, comprise cellulosic material, such as cellulose acetate stretch or other suitable fibrous filtering materials, such as paper. Inclusion of a cylinder end segment comprising filtration material advantageously provides additional filtration efficiency.

Alternatively or additionally, the end segment of the cylinder may comprise at least one sorbent capable of removing at least one constituent of the gas phase of the main stream smoke drawn through the filter. Preferably, the at least one sorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, active aluminum, zeolites, sepiolites, molecular sieves and silica gel. The end segment of the cylinder may include one or more flavorants, preferably one or more liquid flavorants, to further enhance the administration of flavor to the consumer when smoking.

For example, the end segment of the cylinder may comprise a length of filtration material, including one or more filaments impregnated with liquid flavor. The one or more segments may be made from cellulose acetate, rayon, cotton or any other hydrophilic textile or non-textile material capable of absorbing or adsorbing the liquid flavorant. The yarns may be colored, for example, to indicate the type of flavoring impregnated therein. If more than one yarn is provided, the yarns may be the same or different colors and may be impregnated with the same or different liquid flavorings. Preferably, the yarns are between about 0.6 mm and about 2.0 mm in diameter, more preferably about 0.8 mm in diameter. Filter sections comprising flavoring yarns suitable for use in end segments of the multi-component filter cylinder 11 of the present invention and methods and apparatus for the production of such sections are described in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,281,771 and 7,071,470 and are available from American Filtrona Company, Richmond, Virginia, USA.

Alternatively, the end segment of the cylinder may include a plurality of beads impregnated with liquid flavor. The beads may be formed from, for example, a cellulosic material bonded with a polyvinyl acetate binder or from tobacco powder agglomerated with microcrystalline cellulose. Pearls suitable for use in end segments of the multi-component filter cylinder according to the present invention are manufactured and marketed under the trademark Viscopearls® by Rengo Co. Ltd., Japan. Methods and apparatus for the production of such beads are also described in the application Japanese Patent No. 10182842. The beads may have the same or different diameters and colors. The color of the beads may, for example, indicate the type of flavoring with which they are impregnated. Preferably, the beads are between about 0.2 mm and about 2 mm in diameter.

Liquid flavorings for use in the multi-component filter cylinder end segments of the present invention may include one or more flavoring ingredients to create a certain flavor type and may be natural extracts, synthetic flavors or a combination thereof. The liquid flavorings and flavor types that may be included in the multi-component filter cylinder end segment according to the present invention include, but are not limited to menthol, peppermint, spearmint, coffee, tea, spices (such as cinnamon , cloves and ginger), cocoa, vanilla and fruit flavorings. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, the multicomponent filter comprises a liquid menthol flavoring. In these embodiments, providing a menthol flavoring in the cylinder end segment advantageously enhances the aroma released into the main chain smoke pulled through the filter when smoking and complements the menthol and peppermint flavors released downstream into the smoke of the main stream by the peppermint leaf in the aroma release segment. The end segment of the mouth may comprise at least one flavorant, such as those described above for the cylinder end segment. Preferably, if a flavoring is provided, the mouth end segment includes one or more filaments impregnated with liquid flavor.

Multi-component filters according to the present invention may include mouth end segments comprising at least one flavorant or end segments of the barrel comprising at least one flavorant or end segments of the mouth comprising at least one flavorant and segments thereof the cylinder end comprising at least one flavorant. When the mouth end segment and the cylinder end segment comprise at least one flavor, the at least one flavor in the mouth end segment may be the same as or different from the at least one flavor in the segment end of the cylinder.

In use, as the mainstream smoke is drawn from a cylinder of smokable material through the multi-component filter 13, the aroma is released into mainstream smoke from the peppermint leaf in the aroma delivery segment. In embodiments of the present invention wherein at least one flavorant is provided in the cylinder end segment, the aroma is also released upstream of the flavor release segment as described above above. In embodiments of the present invention wherein there is provided at least one alternative or additionally flavoring in the mouth end segment, the aroma is also released downstream of the aroma delivery segment. Multi-component filters according to the present invention may therefore provide a dual or triple aroma increase to the mainstream smoke drawn through the filter when smoking.

The multicomponent filters according to the present invention may be produced by forming separate continuous cylinders comprising multiple units of each individual segment of the multicomponent filter and then combining said separated cylinders in a known manner into one or more phases to form a continuous filter cylinder comprising multiple multicomponent filter units. The continuous filter cylinder can then be subsequently cut at regular intervals by a cutter mechanism to produce a succession of discrete multicomponent filters according to the invention.

Preferably, the smoking articles in accordance with the present invention comprise a chopped tobacco roll with a wrapper. 14

Preferably, the smoking articles according to the present invention have a dry particulate matter free of total nicotine (NFDPM) or "tar" to about 10 mg. More preferably, the " tar content " is between 1 mg and 10 mg, and more preferably is about 6 mg.

The smoking articles according to the present invention may be packaged in containers, for example in soft packs or hinged lid packs, with an inner coating coated with one or more flavorants.

In the filter of the present invention, the peppermint leaf in the flavor release segment is distributed through a portion of fibrous filtration material, preferably a continuous piece of cellulose acetate. The filter plasticizer is applied to the fibrous filtering material in a conventional manner by spraying onto the separated fibers, preferably before the peppermint leaf is applied to the filtering material.

Preferably, the peppermint leaf is substantially uniformly distributed along the length of the fibrous filter material section. The charge of peppermint leaf in the flavor release segment is preferably between about 1 mg and about 4 mg per mm of the flavor release segment for a multi-component filter having a diameter between about 7 , 5 mm and about 7.8 mm. The amount of the filter plasticizer may be between 1% and 9% by weight of the fibrous filter material, preferably 5% or less, by weight of the fibrous filter material section 15. If glycerol triacetate is used as the filter plasticizer, the amount of glycerol triacetate is preferably about 5% by weight of the continuous piece of cellulose acetate or other fibrous filtration material. This level of glycerol triacetate has been found to provide acceptable stiffness of the fibrous filtration material portion of the aroma release segment without obstructing the release of aroma from the peppermint leaf. It is in particular less than the amount of glycerol triacetate in conventional cellulose acetate filter sections, which is typically about 7% by weight.

In smoking articles according to the invention, the flavor segment is preferably between about 5 mm and about 22 mm in length, more preferably between about 10 mm and about 15 mm in length, most preferably about 12 mm in length.

In smoking articles according to the invention, the end segment of the mouth may comprise a hollow tube or recess. The hollow tube or recess may be formed when the multicomponent filter is attached to a cylinder of smokable material by, for example, cigarette tip paper to form a smoking article in accordance with the present invention. In such smoking articles, the downstream end of the flavor release segment is visible at the mouth end of the multicomponent filter through the hollow tube or recess, allowing the consumer to see the peppermint leaf distributed on the fibrous filtering material section. When the mouth end segment comprises a hollow tube or recess, the length of the mouth end segment is preferably between about 3 mm and about 4 mm. 16

The multicomponent filters according to the present invention may further comprise a second flavor release segment between the mouth end segment and the flavoring segment previously described. Inclusion of a second flavor release segment further enhances the administration of flavor to the consumer when smoking.

Preferably, the second flavor release segment comprises tobacco leaf. The tobacco leaf may be minced, cut or otherwise reduced in size. Preferably, the tobacco leaf is finely cut and, more preferably, the tobacco leaf has a cut width of about 0.4 mm.

Preferably the tobacco leaf in the second flavor release segment is dried. Preferably, the moisture content of the tobacco leaf is about 15% by weight or less.

Preferably, the length of the second flavor release segment is between about 6 mm and about 12 mm, more preferably between about 6 mm and about 10 mm. The second flavor release segment may include tobacco leaf to which it has been applied " casing " comprising, for example, sugars or humectants. The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 to 3 show side views of three filter cigarettes comprising multicomponent filters according to the first, second and third embodiments, respectively, of the first aspect of the present invention;

Figures 4 to 7 show schematic sections of four filter cigarettes comprising multicomponent filters according to the fourth to seventh embodiments, respectively, of the present invention; and Figure 8 shows a side view of a filter cigarette comprising a multi-component filter according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

The filter cigarettes shown in Figures 1 to 8 have several components in common and to these components the same reference numerals have been assigned. In each of the side views, portions have been moved away to illustrate inner details of the multicomponent filter.

Each filter cigarette generally comprises a tobacco cylinder 2 with casing attached at one end to an axially elongated, cylindrical, multi-component filter 4. The tobacco cylinder 2 with wrapper and the multi-component filter 4 are conventionally joined by cigarette-tip paper 6, which circumscribes the entire length of the multi-component filter and an adjacent portion of the tobacco cylinder 2 with a wrapper. To ventilate the main stream smoke produced during the combustion of the tobacco cylinder 4 with ambient air casing, a plurality of annular perforations 8 are provided through the cigarette butt paper 6 at a location along the multicomponent filter 4. The multi-component filter 4 of the filter cigarette 10, according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 1, includes two segments with respect to the confining ends: a mouth end segment 12, distal from the cylinder 2 of and a flavor release segment 14 located upstream of the mouth end segment 12 and adjacent and contiguous with the tobacco cylinder 2 with a shell. The mouth end segment 12 comprises a stretch of low efficiency cellulose acetate plasticized with glycerol triacetate. The flavor release segment 14 comprises a cellulose acetate moiety with dried peppermint leaf having a cut width between 1 mm and 2 mm substantially uniformly distributed therethrough. The cellulose acetate moiety includes 5% by weight of glycerol triacetate plasticizer.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (not shown), the mouth end segment 12 of the multicomponent filter 4 shown in Figure 1 is replaced by a recess, which substantially has no filtration efficiency, formed by paper tip 6 cigarette. The multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 20 shown in Figure 2 is similar in construction to that of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 10 shown in Figure 1 and described above. However, the mouth end segment 12 of the filter cigarette 20 shown in Figure 2 further comprises a menthol-laden central cotton yarn 22, which extends axially through the cellulose acetate portion, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 20 of filter. The filter cigarette 30 shown in Figure 3 has a multi-component filter 4 which includes three segments with respect to the confining ends: a mouth end segment 12, remote from the tobacco cylinder 2; a flavor release segment 14 located upstream of the mouth end segment and a cylinder end segment 32, located upstream of the aroma delivery segment 14 and adjacent and confining with the cask tobacco cylinder 2. The mouth end segment 12 and the aroma delivery segment 14 have the same construction as previously described for the filter cigarette 10 shown in Figure 1. The cylinder end segment 32 comprises a continuous length of cellulose acetate of medium to high filtration efficiency which, in use, partially separates particulate phase components from mainstream smoke. The multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 40 shown in Figure 4 is similar in construction to that of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 30 shown in Figure 3 and described above. However, the mouth end segment 12 of the filter cigarette 40 shown in Figure 4 further comprises a menthol-laden central cotton yarn 22 which extends axially through the cellulose acetate portion, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette 40 of filter. The multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 50 shown in Figure 5 is also similarly constructed as the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 30 shown in Figure 3 and described above. However, the cylinder end segment 32 of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 50 shown in Figure 5 comprises a menthol-laden central cotton yarn 52 extending axially through the continuous cellulose acetate portion parallel to the axis longitudinal direction of the cigarette filter 50. The multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 60 shown in Figure 6 is again constructed similar to that of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 30 shown in Figure 3 and described above. However, both the cylinder end segment 32 and the mouth end segment 12 of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 60 shown in Figure 6 comprise a menthol-laden central cotton yarn 22, 52, which extends axially through of the continuous length of cellulose acetate, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter cigarette 60.

In alternative embodiments of the present invention (not shown), the cylinder end segments 32 of the multicomponent filters of the filter cigarettes 40, 50, 60 shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 may further comprise at least one sorbent capable to remove constituents of the gaseous phase from mainstream smoke drawn through the filters 4. The at least one sorbent is, for example, activated carbon, activated aluminum, zeolites or sepiolites added to the continuous cellulose acetate moiety. The multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 70 shown in Figure 7 is similar in construction to that of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 50 shown in Figure 5 and described above. However, the cylinder end segment 32 of the multicomponent filter 4 of the filter cigarette 70 shown in Figure 7 comprises a plurality of Menthol-loaded Viscopearls® instead of the central cotton yarn 52. 21

In alternative embodiments of the present invention (not shown), the mouth end segments 12 of the multi-component filters 4, the filter cigarettes 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 shown in Figures 3 to 7 are replaced by a recess, substantially no filtration efficiency, formed by cigarette tip paper 6. The filter cigarette 90 shown in Figure 8 has a multi-component filter 4 which includes four segments with respect to the confining ends: a mouth end segment 12, remote from the tobacco cylinder 2; a first aroma delivery segment 92 located upstream of the mouth end segment, a second aroma delivery segment 14 located upstream of the first aroma delivery segment and a cylinder end segment 32 located upstream of the second flavor release segment 14 and adjacent and confining with the tobacco cylinder 2 with casing. The mouth end segment 12, the second aroma delivery segment 14 and the cylinder end segment 32 have the same construction as the mouth end segment and the cylinder end segment previously described for the cigarettes 30, 40 , 50, 60, 70 shown in Figures 3 to 7. The second flavor release segment 92 comprises a thickly packaged finely chopped tobacco section. 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 embodiment of the present to 8, filters 4 attached to cylinders 2 produced in a cigarette mode using

In order to form the filter cigarettes 10, 20, 30 according to the forms of invention illustrated in the multicomponent Figures 1 are produced and after tobacco with shell, which are conventional, by the tip paper 6 filtering equipment cigarettes known.

To produce each multicomponent filter 4, separate continuous cylinders comprising multiple units of each segment 12, 14, 32, 92 of the multicomponent filter 4 are produced in a known manner and then combined to form a continuous filter cylinder comprising multiple units of the multicomponent filter 4 . The continuous filter cylinder is then cut at regular intervals by a cutter mechanism to produce a succession of discrete multicomponent filters.

Lisbon, July 23, 2012 23

Claims (10)

Multicomponent filter (4) for a smoking article comprising: a mouth end segment (12); and a flavor release segment (14) upstream of the mouth end segment (12), wherein the flavor release segment (14) comprises a portion of fibrous filtration material, peppermint leaf distributed through the mouth fibrous filtering material and a filter plasticizer applied to the fibrous filtration material, wherein the amount of filter plasticizer in the flavor release segment is up to 5% by weight of the fibrous filtration material. The multicomponent filter (4) according to claim 1, wherein the filter plasticizer is glycerol triacetate. The multicomponent filter (4) according to claim 2, wherein the amount of glycerol triacetate is between 0.5% and 1.5% by weight of the peppermint leaf. Multi-component filter (4) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the flavor release segment (14) comprises a cellulose acetate portion with the peppermint leaf distributed therein. A multi-component filter (4) according to any preceding claim further comprising a cylinder end segment (32) upstream of the aroma delivery segment (14). Multi-component filter (4) according to any preceding claim further comprising a second flavor release segment between the mouth end segment and the aroma delivery segment. A multi-component filter (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein the mouth end segment (12) comprises filtration material. 8. The multi-component filter (4) according to any preceding claim, wherein the mouth end segment (12) comprises at least one liquid flavorant. 9. A smoking article (10) comprising: a cylinder with a casing of smokable material (2) and a multi-component filter (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, (2) of smokable material by cigarette-tip paper (6) A smoking article (10) (20 (30) (40) (50) (60) (70) (80) according to claim 9, wherein the mouth end segment (12) of the filter ) multicomponent is a hollow or recessed tube.