WO2021019184A1 - Filter, particularly a conical filter, for a cigarette or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter for a cigarette or the like comprising: - an outer envelope having an axisymmetric shape about a longitudinal axis, - inner walls (8, 10) connected to one another by folds (4, 6). At least two folds (4) extend along the inner face of the outer envelope and at least one fold (6) is made at a distance from the inner face of the outer envelope. In addition, the filter has a free space around the longitudinal axis.

Description

Description

Title: Filter, in particular conical filter, for cigarette or similar

The present invention relates to a filter for cigarettes or the like. This filter is in particular a conical filter but it can also be a filter of cylindrical shape (which corresponds to a particular cone).

[0002] The term “cigarette or the like” here means a rolled sheet, generally of paper, surrounding a dried and prepared plant substance, tobacco in the case of a cigarette, other substances for similar devices, and intended to be smoked . The filter is intended to be integral with one end of the casing containing the tobacco, or other plant substance, and to form an interface between the tobacco, or the like, and the mouth of a smoker. Indeed, in order to smoke the cigarette or the like, the smoker draws air through the cigarette or the like and the filter is present to then prevent pieces of tobacco or the like from then coming into the mouth of the smoker.

[0003] To smoke certain substances, in particular substances which are less easily consumed than tobacco, it is preferable to have a conical envelope to have better draft and promote the combustion of the substances. In this case, it is preferable to have a filter whose shape is adapted to the shape of the envelope to be able to more easily assemble the filter and the envelope (to be filled or filled).

[0004] Currently, the manufacture of conical filters is carried out manually, at best semi-automatically. These filters most often have a conical outer casing and include internal walls inside the cone thus produced which come, on the one hand, to stiffen the outer casing and, on the other hand, to form a barrier to prevent pieces. of tobacco or other substance to pass. The internal walls have, for example, a W-shape inside the conical shell.

[0005] WO2016 / 049648 relates to a smoking article and a manufacturing process providing a sheet of smokable material having a plurality of edges. One or more notches or cuts are made in the sheet which each extend a partial distance from a first said edge towards a second said edge, the notch or cut separating large and small sections of the sheet. A hinge is defined by a portion of the sheet of smokable material which is adjacent to a notch or cutout, said hinge connecting the large section to the small section. A shape having a conical shape is provided for shaping the sheet. The shape has an outer surface, a large diameter end, a small diameter end, and a cavity which extends toward said small diameter end. The corrugations on the small section of the sheet allow the small section to be fitted into the cavity via the small diameter end. The hinge allows the sheet to fold when the small section occupies the cavity in an assembled position in which the large section is wrapped around the outer surface of the form. In the assembled position, the corrugations allow the small section to come together to define a filter.

[0006] Document US3370594 relates to a filter for tobacco smoke or the like comprising at least one element in the form of a sheet in a material suitable for filtering tobacco smoke disposed, preferably longitudinally, in a tubular nozzle forming a container such that the sheet member is held by the interior wall of the container, the arrangement being such that tobacco smoke flowing through the mouthpiece is forced to pass through the sheet member (s) .

[0007] Document US2014 / 0202479 discloses a support structure for use in a smoking article. Said support structure is arranged to cause the release of an additive from an additive release component in response to the application of a compressive force, the support structure changing the compressive force necessary to cause the release. of the additive of the additive release component compared to the force required to release the additive from the same additive release component in the absence of the support structure. This document also illustrates a system release agent, a filter, a smoking article and a method of manufacturing said smoking article.

[0008] By virtue of their manufacturing process and their shape, current conical filters are difficult to integrate into an automatic manufacturing system and are also difficult to manufacture automatically.

The present invention therefore aims to provide a filter having an outer envelope of revolution (conical or circular cylindrical) which can be integrated into an automated manufacturing unit of an assembly formed by a filter and by a casing (conical or circular cylindrical) intended to contain a dried vegetable substance (tobacco or other).

[0010] Preferably, the proposed filter could also be produced in an automated manner.

summary

[0011] The present disclosure improves the situation.

[0012] A filter for cigarettes or the like is provided comprising an outer casing in the form of a revolution about a longitudinal axis.

According to the present invention, this filter has interior walls interconnected by folds; at least two plies extend along the inner face of the outer shell; at least two folds are made away from the inner face of the outer shell, and the filter has a free space around the longitudinal axis.

[0014] Such a filter, by virtue of its shape, has, on the one hand, good mechanical strength and, on the other hand, can be held by a rod at its center for optionally the manufacture of the filter but also subsequently for integrating the filter into a cigarette or the like.

According to a first embodiment of a filter described above, inner walls are arranged between two folds which extend along the inner face of the outer casing. Said inner walls connect two neighboring folds extending along the inner face of the outer casing. We considers here that two adjacent plies, that is to say without an intermediate ply between them and said plies extending along the inner face of the outer casing, are connected by an inner wall which therefore is thus along the outer wall without however resuming the rounding. This inner wall then forms an arc chord for the outer casing between the two neighboring folds. According to this first embodiment, it is possible for example to provide that there are several successions of a first wall arranged between a first fold made at a distance from the inner face of the outer casing and a first fold made along said face. interior, a second wall disposed between the previous ply and a second ply formed along said inner face and a third wall disposed between the previous ply and a second ply produced at a distance from said inner face.

According to a second embodiment of a filter according to the invention, each inner wall, apart from at most two of them, are arranged between a fold extending along the inner face of the outer shell and a fold made away from the inner face of the outer shell.

The characteristics exposed in the following paragraphs can optionally be implemented. They can be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other:

[0018] the folds made at a distance from the inner wall of the outer casing form generatrices around the longitudinal axis of a shape substantially parallel to the outer casing;

- the outer shell is frustoconical in shape;

- the outer casing is connected to an inner wall over the entire length of the filter;

- the inner walls are arranged so as to form a pattern which repeats several times around the longitudinal axis;

- the filter is made of paper or cardboard;

- the filter is made from a cut and folded sheet, possibly glued locally. In this embodiment, the cut and folded sheet can present a substantially rectangular shape with two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges, part of the sheet on the side of a transverse edge being folded with folds parallel to said transverse edge and the rest of the sheet being plane.

[0024] This document also relates to an assembly formed of a rolled sheet and a filter as described above, in which the rolled sheet covers the outer casing of the filter and extends the latter.

Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the appended drawing, in which:

Fig. 1

[0026] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a conical filter.

Fig. 2

[0027] [Fig. 2] shows the filter of Figure 1 from another perspective.

Fig. 3

[0028] [Fig. 3] is a front view of the filter of Figures 1 and 2.

Fig. 4

[0029] [Fig. 4] is a front view at 180 ° with respect to the view of FIG. 3.

Fig. 5

[0030] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view from two different angles of an alternative embodiment of a conical filter.

Fig. 6

[0031] [Fig. 6] shows another variant embodiment in front view.

Fig. 7

[0032] [Fig. 7] shows a development of the filter of Figures 1 to 4. Fig. 8

[0033] [Fig. 8] illustrates a step in the production of a filter.

Fig. 9

[0034] [Fig. 9] shows the development of Figure 7 after the step shown in Figure 8.

Fig. 10

[0035] [Fig. 10] shows a filter mounted on a mandrel.

Fig. 11

[0036] [Fig. 11] is a detail view of FIG. 10, the filter being shown in transparency.

Fig. 12

[0037] [Fig. 12] shows a filter associated with a rolled sheet.

Description of embodiments

[0038] The drawing and the description below contain, for the most part, elements of a certain nature. They can therefore not only serve to better understand this disclosure, but also contribute to its definition, if applicable.

[0039] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a first embodiment of a conical shaped filter.

[0040] The illustrated filter is intended to form a cigarette mouthpiece or the like.

A cigarette comprises a sheet of paper, of the cigarette paper type, rolled up on itself so as to define a circular or conical cylindrical space in which the tobacco is located. It is also possible to put another plant substance in the rolled up sheet of paper. We then obtain a device similar to a cigarette.

The filter illustrated is intended to serve as an interface between the cigarette or the like and the mouth of a user (or user). It aims in particular that by smoking the cigarette or the like, the substance (tobacco or the like) which is in a state chopped into fine small pieces does not come into the user's mouth.

The filters illustrated in the accompanying figures can be produced by cutting and folding a sheet, possibly with a gluing phase to keep the folded sheet in its final position. The sheet used is, by way of illustration and without limitation, for example a sheet of cardboard, having a thickness of approximately 0.15 mm and a basis weight of between 90 and 140 gm ² .

As emerges from Figures 1 to 5, the filters illustrated, also that of Figure 6, have a frustoconical outer overall shape. The filters shown thus generally have a shape of revolution around an axis called hereafter the longitudinal axis (symbolized by a cross in Figures 3 and 4). By way of non-limiting illustrative example, the base of the filter, that is to say the base of the frustoconical shape, has a diameter of approximately 8 mm corresponding to a conventional diameter for a cigarette, the top of the filter, c 'That is to say the top of the frustoconical shape has a diameter of about 6 mm and the height of the filter (distance between the base and the top measured along the longitudinal axis) is between 20 and 30 mm.

We note in the figures an edge 2 on the outer surface of the filter. This edge 2 corresponds to the edge of the cut sheet used to form the filter. This ridge 2 extends along a generatrix of the frustoconical shape, from the base to the top of the truncated cone.

For each of the embodiments, the sheet (of cardboard) used to make the filter is rolled to form the frustoconical outer surface of the filter and is also folded to form internal walls inside the truncated cone thus produced. . The different variants illustrated in the accompanying drawing are distinguished by the different folding achieved and the different arrangement of the internal walls in the space delimited by the truncated cone.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the internal walls are arranged so as to form a shape reminiscent of a flower. Each internal wall is of substantially trapezoidal shape. It is placed between two folds of the sheet and is delimited by two edges of the sheet cut to make the filter. We note in Figures 1 to 4 two types of folds: a first type of fold 4 with an angle between 90 and 135 ° and a second type of fold 6 with an angle between 135 and 180 °.

The first folds 4 are arranged against, or in the immediate vicinity (less than 0.5 mm) of the inner face of the truncated cone. There are at least two first folds 4.

[0049] The second plies 6 are arranged around the longitudinal axis, between the truncated cone and the longitudinal axis, being closer to the longitudinal axis than to the inner face of the truncated cone. At least two second folds 6 are provided. In Figures 1 to 4, the second folds 6 are twice as close to the longitudinal axis as to the truncated cone. This is a special embodiment. We would not go beyond the scope of the invention to change this proportion.

Here, in the illustrated embodiment, corresponding to a preferred embodiment (among others), the second folds 6 define generatrices of a truncated cone parallel to the truncated cone forming the outer surface of the filter . Note that the interior space of the second truncated cone defined by the second folds 6 is empty. This creates a free space of any wall around the longitudinal axis. It is thus possible to position the filter on a rod, preferably a rod having a taper close to that of the filter. By placing it on such a rod, the filter is positioned and centered. It can then be maintained without having to make contact with the outer peripheral surface of the filter.

[0051] Just as there are two different types of folds, there are two different types of internal walls. A first type of internal wall 8 corresponds to the internal walls arranged between two first folds 4. These first internal walls are oriented tangentially because they are parallel to planes tangential to the truncated cone of the filter.

The second type of internal walls 10 corresponds to internal walls arranged between a first ply 4 and a second ply 6. We can qualify these second internal walls 10 of radial walls even if they do not pass exactly through the longitudinal axis of the truncated cone.

There are in the truncated cone forming the outer wall of the filter several successions of three internal walls in this order: second internal wall 10, first internal wall 8 and second internal wall 10. Each of these successions of three internal walls form a "flower petal". In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, it can be seen that there are five "flower petals" but only four first internal walls 8. In fact, an internal wall is a bit special because it is not. not delimited by two folds but by a first fold 4 and by an edge of the sheet used to form the filter (the edge of the sheet opposite to that forming the edge 2). This particular internal wall is called internal wall 8 ′, which can be likened to a tangential internal wall.

The first internal walls 8 and the second internal walls 10 form barriers in the filter which prevent tobacco, or the like, from passing through the filter. They do not, however, prevent the passage of air and hardly create a pressure drop for the airflow drawn in by a smoker drawing air through such a filter.

[0055] Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4. The structure of the internal walls is substantially the same but here instead of having five "flower petals", there are eight. . On the side of the apex of the truncated cone forming the outer surface of the filter, the second plies 6 meet and come into contact. Here too, there is a free space around the longitudinal axis (symbolized by a cross). Advantageously, there will preferably be at least two “flower petals” and preferably at least three.

This embodiment, with "flower petals" has good rigidity because the second internal walls ("radial" walls) are held against each other. These walls are tighter on the side of the cone of small diameter so that the part of the filter intended to come into contact with the lips of a smoker has good grip in the mouth. It is also noted that this shape, by virtue of its regularity, is aesthetic. Indeed, apart from the "petal" with the first internal wall 8 ', the filter has a repetition of five (or eight) similar sections.

[0058] The embodiment of Figure 5 shows a different arrangement of the internal walls. In this embodiment, there are first plies 14 which are arranged in the immediate vicinity (for example less than 1 mm) of the inner face of the portion of rolled sheet forming the frustoconical outer surface of the filter, as well as second plies 16 arranged at a distance from said inner face and closer to the longitudinal axis of the conical shape than to said inner face.

In this embodiment, the internal walls 18 are each time arranged between a first fold 14 and a second fold 16. There is then a configuration of the internal walls 18 which forms a star. In the embodiment shown, the star has six branches but those skilled in the art will understand that it is possible to have a different number of branches (either more or less, preferably at least two and more preferably , at least three).

[0060] Here too, there is a free area around the longitudinal axis of the filter. The latter is here also of frustoconical shape, this second truncated cone being substantially parallel to the truncated cone defining the external shape of the filter and the second folds 16 forming generatrices for this second truncated cone.

Conical filters as described above can be produced according to a process which comprises the following steps:

- a) providing means for scrolling a strip of paper having a constant width in a direction of travel,

[0063] - b) cutting the strip transversely to the direction of travel at regular intervals from one edge of the strip and over only part of the width of the strip,

[0064] - c) creation of longitudinal folds with respect to the direction of travel between the transverse cuts, [0065] - d) winding of each section in which the longitudinal folds have been created,

[0066] - e) cutting of the strip in the extension of the cuts made in step b),

[0067] - f) winding each non-pleated cone-shaped portion around the corresponding pleated and already wound section, and

[0068] - g) assembly in order to maintain the assembly produced in its coiled form.

[0069] Figure 7 illustrates a development of a filter illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. As can be seen, the filter is made from a substantially rectangular sheet with large edges and small edges. First folds 104 and second folds 106 are made parallel to the small edges. These folds are made on a first part 42 of the press while a second part 44 of the press, corresponding to the rest of the press, is not folded. It is recognized here that the first plies 104 correspond to the first plies 4 of the filter and that the second plies 106 correspond to the second plies 6 of the filter. Between the folds, we also recognize portions 108 disposed between two first folds 104 and portions 110 disposed each time between a first fold 104 and a second fold 106. The portions 108 correspond to a first internal wall 8 and the portions 110 correspond. to a second internal wall 10. We also recognize a portion 108 'which remains between a first fold 104 and a free edge of the developed (opposite to a free edge 102 intended to form the edge 2) and which corresponds to the internal wall 8 'a little particular assimilated to a tangential wall.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of step c) of the method proposed above while FIG. 8 illustrates step d). In this figure 8, on the left, we recognize a development such as that illustrated in FIG. 7. There are here several successive developments made in a sheet 26 which is driven by a drive device not shown in the direction of arrow 40, that is to say in a direction corresponding to the folds made in the sheet 26. Prior to the realization of the folds (first folds 104 and second folds 106), the sheet 26 was cut, during step b) , at the level of the first part 42 which is intended to be folded. In figure 8, the second parts 44 are attached to each other and form a continuous strip which can be used, for example, by the driving device to advance the sheet 26. To wind up each first folded part 42, each first part 42 is raised by a deflector and then is guided in a conical groove in order to give it the desired shape, that is to say the shape illustrated in FIG. 9. The second parts 44 can then be separated from each other (step e): the cut made is slightly curved to take account of the conical shape to be given) and are each wound around a first part 42 which is folded and correspondingly wound (step f)).

It is noted in Figure 7 in particular that the second part 44 of a developed is connected to a second portion 110, that is to say that in the filter, at the end of manufacture, the outer casing is connected over the entire length of the filter to an internal wall of the filter, here a second internal wall 10 in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4. It is possible here also to generalize to the embodiment of FIG. 5: in the embodiments preferred of the present disclosure, the outer casing is connected to an inner wall of the filter along the entire length of that filter. In the embodiments presented here, we have an outer casing which just covers or surrounds the inner walls of the filter. Inner walls and outer casing have the same length longitudinally.

Industrial application

The various embodiments described above have a filter of conical outer shape. This shape could also be cylindrical to adapt to cigarettes which are also cylindrical. There is thus a filter with an outer shape of revolution about a longitudinal axis. Inside the space delimited by this outer shape, there are internal walls which, on the one hand, form barriers preventing tobacco or the like from passing and, on the other hand, leave free a delimited space around it. the longitudinal axis. The filter thus produced has good mechanical strength despite the presence of a central free zone. It is greater than that obtained by carrying out a W (or M) folding known from the prior art.

Thanks to the proposed shape, it is possible to hold the product by its center by positioning it on a rod (preferably conical). The embodiments described provide a free space around the longitudinal axis which has an overall shape of revolution around the longitudinal axis. The filter can thus take all the positions on the rod on which it takes place. It is therefore useless to orient it angularly before holding it. The filters can thus be packaged in bulk and it is unnecessary to provide an operation to orient them before coming to assemble them with a cigarette sheet or the like.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a cooperation of a cylindrical (or conical) pin with a filter illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. This cooperation is similar with the other filters of the present disclosure (Figures 5 and 6 or others ).

As indicated above, the inner folds form generatrices of a cone with the same axis as the cone (or truncated cone) of the outer casing. In addition, the space in the center of the filter, around the axis of the cone forming the outer shell is free. Thus, a pin of suitable dimensions can be introduced in the center of the filter and come to bear on said inner folds. The filter is then perfectly positioned because it is centered on the axis of the pin.

Figure 10 shows a mandrel 50 carrying a filter 60 corresponding to a filter of Figures 1 and 4 but which can be any other filter corresponding to the present disclosure. It can be seen that the filter 60 is positioned in the extension of the mandrel 50. FIG. 11 is a detail view in which the filter 60 is illustrated in transparency. It can be seen here that the mandrel 50 carries a pin 52 on which the filter 60 is positioned. This mounting of the filter 60 on the pin 52 of the mandrel 50 makes it possible to maintain the filter 60 during a subsequent operation intended to wind up a sheet 70 (FIG. 12) of cigarette paper for example to form a conical envelope in which the filter is located and intended to receive tobacco or the like. The mandrel 50 then forms a matrix making it possible to give the shape to the sheet of cigarette paper. We notice that this sheet can easily be put in place because the filter 60 is held from the inside. The sheet 70 may come entirely to cover the outer casing of the filter 60 and extend the latter on the side of the large diameter of the filter to form a space intended to receive tobacco or the like. The fixing of the sheet 70 on the filter 60 and the maintenance of the shape of the sheet can be achieved by gluing. The assembly formed by the filter 60 and the sheet 70 of cigarette paper can easily be removed from the mandrel. Note that the rigid shape of the filter is an advantage which makes it possible to facilitate the removal of this assembly without damaging it. FIG. 12 illustrates the assembly formed by the filter 60 and the sheet 70 after removal of the mandrel.

The proposed product also has an aesthetic singularity which adds a plus to the finished product (filter and cigarette or the like fitted with this filter).

The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, only by way of example, and to the variants mentioned, but it encompasses all the variants that a person skilled in the art may consider in the context of protection sought.

Claims

Claims [Claim 1] Filter for cigarettes or the like comprising an outer casing of shape of revolution about a longitudinal axis, characterized in that it has inner walls (8, 10; 18) interconnected by folds (4, 6; 14, 16), in that at least two folds (4; 14) extend along the inner face of the outer casing, in that at least two folds (6; 16) are made at a distance from the inner face of the outer casing, and in that the filter has a free space around the longitudinal axis. [Claim 2] A filter according to claim 1, characterized in that inner walls (8) connect two adjacent folds (4) which extend along the inner face of the outer shell. [Claim 3] Filter according to claim 2, characterized in that there are several successions of a first wall (8) arranged between a first ply (6) produced at a distance from the inner face of the outer casing and a first fold (4) made along said inner face, a second wall (8) disposed between the previous fold (4) and a second fold (4) made along said inner face and a third wall (10 ) arranged between the previous fold (4) and a second fold (6) produced at a distance from said inner face. [Claim 4] A filter according to claim 1, characterized in that each inner wall (18), apart from at most two of them, are arranged between a fold (14) extending along the inner face of the outer shell and a fold (16) made at a distance from the inner face of the outer shell. [Claim 5] Filter according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the folds (6; 16) produced at a distance from the inner wall of the outer casing form generatrices around the longitudinal axis of a shape substantially parallel to the outer shell. [Claim 6] Filter according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the outer casing is of frustoconical shape. [Claim 7] Filter according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the outer casing is connected to an inner wall over the entire length of the filter. [Claim 8] Filter according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the inner walls are arranged so as to form a pattern which repeats several times around the longitudinal axis. [Claim 9] Filter according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it is made of paper or cardboard. [Claim 10] Filter according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is made from a cut and folded sheet, optionally glued locally. [Claim 11] A filter according to claim 10, characterized in that the cut and folded sheet has a substantially rectangular shape with two longitudinal edges and two transverse edges, part of the sheet on the side of a transverse edge being folded with folds. parallel to said transverse edge and the remainder of the sheet being plane. [Claim 12] An assembly formed of a rolled sheet and a filter according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rolled sheet covers the outer envelope of the filter and extends the latter.