TWI586287B - Tobacco with mouth cavity - Google Patents

Description

Tobacco with mouth cavity

The present invention is directed to a smoking article comprising a roll of paper forming a mouth end cavity and including one or more indicia placed on the inner surface of the mouth end cavity. The invention also relates to a method for making such a smoking article.

There are many different types of smoking products known, including some smoking articles in which the smoking materials are burned and other non-combustible smoking articles in which no combustion occurs. As an example of a flammable smoking article, a filter cigarette typically includes a cylindrical filter that is linearly aligned in end-to-end relationship with a wrapped tobacco rod such that the filter can be passed through a filter paper. Attached to the tobacco rod. In such a filter cigarette, the filter may be constructed of a plunger body made of a fibrous filter material (such as a cellulose acetate tow) wrapped in a porous plunger package. Conventionally, the wrapped tobacco rod and filter are connected by filter paper, which is typically constructed of a paper strip that constrains the entire length of the filter and the wrapped tobacco rod. An adjacent portion.

Many tobacco products in which tobacco is heated rather than burned have been disclosed as an example of non-combustible smoking. In heated smoking articles, the smoke is produced by heating a flavor generating substrate such as tobacco. Conventional heated smoking articles include, for example, electrically heated smoking articles and smoking articles in which the smoke is produced by transferring the heat of a combustible fuel element or heat source to a physically different aerosol forming material. During smoking, a plurality of volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-forming substrate by heating and carried in the air drawn through the smoking article. When released When the compounds are cooled, they will condense to form a smoke that will be inhaled by the consumer. As another example of a non-combustible smoking article, a smoking article in which nicotine-containing smoke can be formed from tobacco material or other source of nicotine without burning without additional heating has been disclosed, such as disclosed in WO-A. -2008/121610 and WO-A-2010/107613 and other cases. In these types of smoking products, a chemical source is set to produce nicotine-containing smoke.

It has previously been proposed to provide a roll of paper on a smoking article that has been printed with a graphic design to provide a more aesthetic appearance of the smoking article. Such printing may be a continuous repetition and cover all or part of the pattern of the tobacco wrap or filter paper, or may be an unconnected mark or graphic.

Preferably, a smoking article is provided which has a variety of novel ways of displaying indicia such as words, images, letters, words, logos, patterns, or the like. It is especially desirable to provide a smoking article having such novel ways of displaying graphics or indicia without significantly affecting the overall size of the smoking article. In addition, it is also desirable that such smoking products can be assembled using standard packaging equipment and techniques.

According to the present invention, there is provided a smoking article comprising a tobacco rod and a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece includes at least one segment and a roll of paper that constrains the at least one segment and defines a mouth end cavity. The mouthpiece is axially aligned with the tobacco rod and has a rod end adjacent to the tobacco rod and a mouth end opposite the rod end. One or more indicia are laid over the inner surface of the web portion defining the mouth end cavity.

Including the cavity at the mouth will increase the area used to print the mark, and There is no need to significantly increase the overall size of this smoking article. By providing a mark on the inner surface of the cavity at the mouth end, the consumer will be given a strong visual impact and distinctive merchandise. In addition, the visible surface area on the smoking article will be increased under the limited effect of the filtering effect on the smoking article.

The tobacco rod of the present invention is preferably constructed of a tobacco material suitable for being burned to form a smoke, such as a cigarette or other combustible smoking article. Alternatively, the tobacco rod can be any aerosol generating substrate comprising tobacco or nicotine-containing material. As noted above, mouthpieces constructed in accordance with the present invention can be advantageously utilized in filter cigarettes and other smoking articles in which the tobacco material is burned to form smoke. Mouthpieces constructed in accordance with the present invention can also be used in smoking articles in which the tobacco material is heated rather than burned to form smoke. Mouthpieces constructed in accordance with the present invention may also be used in smoking articles in which nicotine fumes are produced from tobacco materials, tobacco extracts or other nicotine sources rather than through combustion or heating.

The term "mark" is used to refer to a disjointed printed element or repeated printed element or pattern that provides an aesthetically pleasing presentation. This mark can be in the form of a text, an image, a letter, a word, a logo, a pattern, or a combination thereof. For example, the indicia on the inner surface of the mouth end cavity of the present invention may include a brand or manufacturer identification that allows the consumer to identify the type or origin of the smoking article. Alternatively, the indicia can include a repeating printing element on the inner surface of the web material. The indicia may be generally aligned with the axis of the smoking article, generally perpendicular to the axis of the smoking article, or at an angle to the smoking article rather than parallel or perpendicular to each other. In addition, different indicia can be provided on a plurality of smoking articles that are sold together. For example, in a package, several items of tobacco can be included in two or more Different types of tags. In addition, the indicia can be presented in a manner that is conveyed by a message, such that the indicia on a plurality of adjacent smoking articles in a package can be seen when the package is opened, and the visible indicia is spelled or Differently convey a message in a sentence.

To form the mouth end cavity, the mouthpiece has a section such as a filter section or other structure, and the web extends beyond the mouth end of the section to form the mouth end cavity. The mouthpiece segment can have an internal structure, such as a hollow cylinder, or can be a filter in the form of a cavity, as will be described in further detail below. The web may extend beyond the mouth end of the segment by between about 2 mm and about 10 mm, preferably between about 4 mm and about 7 mm. The visible inner surface area of the web may be between about 50 mm ² and about 250 mm ² , preferably between about 100 mm ² and about 200 mm ² , more preferably between about 100 mm ² and about 175. Between mm ² . The visible inner surface area of the web may be at least about 5%, preferably at least about 10% of the total visible surface of the mouthpiece.

In the case where the web material is as discussed below, in the case of a sheet, the basis weight of the web material is preferably about 40 g/m ² (gsm), more preferably about 60 gsm, optimally. About 80 gsm. Alternatively, or in addition, the basis weight of the web material is preferably less than about 160 gsm, more preferably less than about 150 gsm, and most preferably less than about 140 gsm. The basis weight of the web material is preferably between about 40 gsm and about 160 gsm, more preferably between about 45 gsm and about 150 gsm, and most preferably between about 80 gsm and about 140 gsm. between. In general, the use of a web material that is harder than conventional smoking articles will advantageously reduce the likelihood that the mouth end cavity will collapse when smoking the smoking article.

In addition to providing indicia on the inner surface of the web defining the mouth end cavity, the indicia can also be provided on the outer surface of the mouthpiece. When this indicia can also be provided on the outer surface of the mouthpiece, it can be placed only on the mouthpiece portion defining the cavity, or it can extend along the mouthpiece toward the stem end of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, an external indicia can be provided on the outer surface of the roll paper (eg, filter roll paper) as will be further explained below.

The cross-sectional shape of the smoking article can have many shapes including a circular shape, an oval shape, an oval shape, or an egg shape.

In the case where the mouthpiece of the smoking article according to the present invention comprises a filter, the filter may be constituted by a single segment, or may be a multi-segment filter comprising two or more A section of filter material that is connected in the longitudinal direction. Where two or more filter segments are provided, the filter segments may have the same construction and materials as one another, but more preferably have different configurations or contain different materials or additives. In some preferred embodiments of the invention, the mouthpiece includes a multi-section filter having a filter section, and the filter section includes a filter material and a particulate material that is dispersed through the filter material.

In the case where the filter comprises two or more segments, the segments are typically reported to be wrapped in a plunger package. Either or both of the two or more segments may each be individually wrapped in a plunger package. The two or more segments may be joined by a coupling plunger package that joins the two or more segments in an end-to-end relationship with each other. The coupling plunger material may be a roll paper forming the mouth end cavity as described above, or a subsequent roll paper disposed around the coupling plunger package forming the mouth end cavity may be provided .

Preferably, the filter material in the filter section is a plunger formed of a fibrous filter material such as acetate tow or paper. A filter plasticizer can be applied to the fibrous filter material in a conventional manner by spraying it onto individual fibers, preferably prior to laying any particulate material to the filter material.

Alternatively, or in addition to the filter segments described herein, the multi-section filter can include a hollow chamber that is at least partially filled with a particulate material. In these embodiments, the hollow chamber is preferably disposed between two plungers constructed of filter material.

Preferably, between about 40% and about 100% of the volume of the cavity is filled with particulate material, more preferably between about 60% and about 80% of the volume of the cavity. Such cavity filters can be made by utilizing the machinery and techniques conventionally used to make activated carbon filters. In one such technique, two plungers of filter material are placed on a roll of paper material with a space therebetween. The space therebetween is at least partially filled with the particulate material, and the web is then wrapped around the plungers such that a cavity is formed between the plungers that is at least partially filled with particulate material. A detailed method is described, for example, in EP-A-1,571,933. The machinery used to perform these manufacturing methods can be obtained from many different sources. For example, Filtrona International of the United Kingdom manufactures such machinery.

The particulate material incorporated into the segments as described above may include at least one absorbent that removes at least one gas phase component from the mainstream smoke drawn through the filter. Preferably, the at least one absorbent is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon beads, activated aluminum, zeolite, sepiolite, molecular sieves, and silicone.

Alternatively, or in addition to the at least one absorbent, the particulate material can comprise at least one perfume material. For example, the particulate flavor material can comprise a particulate of a liquid perfume or a cellulosic material. Alternatively, the particulate flavor material may comprise particles of plant material. The plant material may be in the shape of a plant leaf as described in EP-A-1,958,523. For example, the filter section can comprise leaves from tobacco, green tea, peppermint, spearmint, laurel, eucalyptus, basil, sage, verbena, and tarragon. In addition, some mint plants can also be used. The term "mint" refers to a plant belonging to the genus Mint. The plant material may alternatively be in the shape of a seed, root, bark, flower, or the like, such as those often used as perfumers.

Tobacco articles constructed in accordance with the present invention may comprise a plurality of different types of filter media segments or combinations of filter media segments, including those of the foregoing and those of the type of filter media well known in the art, such as inclusions used to adjust pumping. The limiter of the suction resistance (RTD) and the segment of the segment.

In a first aspect of the invention, the roll paper comprising the one or more indicia is a plunger wrap. In this first aspect, the smoking article can further comprise a filter paper or filter roll paper that defines the mouthpiece and connects the mouthpiece to the tobacco rod. This filter paper advantageously increases the stiffness of the cavity wall of the mouth end so as to reduce the likelihood of collapse of the cavity during smoking. Preferably, the filter paper is stacked over the entire or only a portion of the plunger package used to define the cavity at the mouth end. The filter paper can be constructed from a fibrous sheet material, as in conventional cigarettes, and in this manner will provide the consumer with a familiar configuration and mouth feel.

In this first aspect, the one or more marked plunger packs are included The material may extend partially from the mouth end along the length of the mouthpiece such that a portion of one of the mouthpieces at the rod end is not covered by the plunger package. Preferably, a venting area is provided at a portion of the mouthpiece that is not covered by the plunger package. This will improve the ventilation of the penetrating smoke. More preferably, the venting region includes at least one row of apertures at the periphery, and the apertures extend through the filter paper. This provides the venting of the smoking article so that mainstream smoke can mix with the surrounding air during the aspiration process. In the case where the mouthpiece includes a filter, the apertures at the periphery are preferably placed at a location along the filter. Advantageously, where the plunger wrapper is substantially non-porous, leaving the plunger wrapper over a portion of the mouthpiece will provide adequate ventilation through the venting region.

Alternatively, in this first aspect, the plunger package comprising the one or more indicia can extend along the entire length of the mouthpiece such that the entire mouthpiece including the mouth end cavity can be wrapped by the plunger Covered. In still another embodiment, where the mouthpiece includes at least one filter segment, the plunger wrap is adapted to extend along the entire length of the filter segment or segments.

In the case where the mouthpiece comprises a filter, the apertures are preferably disposed between about 9 mm and about 20 mm from the mouth end of the filter. More preferably, the apertures are disposed about 12 mm from the mouth end of the filter. This will prevent the apertures from being blocked or occluded by their lips during consumer aspiration.

In another aspect of the invention, the one or more indicia can be applied to an inner surface of the filter paper defining the mouthpiece. In addition to the filter paper, a substantially transparent roll of paper in the shape of a plunger can be provided to define the filter segments or segments as described above. In this way, it is located in the filter The one or more indicia on the mouthsheet can be seen through the substantially transparent plunger wrap.

The term "substantially transparent" is used to describe a material that allows at least a significant proportion of incident light to pass through so that it can be seen through the material. In the present invention, the substantially transparent roll paper allows sufficient light to pass through so that the target on the filter paper can be seen through the roll paper. This substantially transparent roll of paper can be completely transparent. Alternatively, the substantially transparent web may have a lower transparency, but still transmit sufficient light to see the indicia through the web.

The thickness of the substantially transparent roll paper is preferably at least about 25 μm, more preferably at least about 35 μm, and most preferably about 40 μm. Additionally or alternatively, the thickness is preferably less than about 110 μm, more preferably less than about 80 μm. The thickness is preferably between about 25 μm and about 110 μm, more preferably between about 35 μm and about 110 μm, and most preferably between about 40 μm and about 80 μm. The basis weight of the substantially transparent roll paper is preferably at least about 40 gsm (grams per square meter), preferably between about 40 gsm and about 80 gsm, and most preferably between about 40 gsm and about 60 gsm. between. Suitable materials for use as substantially transparent rolls of the articles of the present invention include, but are not limited to, cellophane, cellulose acetate, and polypropylene. Appropriately transparent materials of varying grades, thicknesses and basis weights are commercially available from a number of sources. For example, Innovia Films and Clarifoil manufacture many different types and grades of such materials.

The smoking article implemented in accordance with the present invention may be a burnt smoking article such as a filter cigarette or other in which tobacco material or otherwise combustible material is A smoking article that burns to form a smog. Alternatively, the smoking article of the present invention may be non-flammable. As an example, the non-combustible smoking article can include a material that is heated rather than burned to form a smoke. In a heated smoking article type, tobacco and other aerosol forming materials are heated by one or more electrical heating elements to form a smoke. In another type of heated smoking article, the smoke is generated by heat transfer from a combustible or chemical heat source to a substantially separate aerosol forming material, and the material can be disposed within the heat source. , around or downstream.

Alternatively, the filter according to the present invention can be incorporated into a smoking article in which nicotine-containing smoke is formed from tobacco material or other source of nicotine without burning or heating, such as in WO-A-2008/121610. And as described in WO-A-2010/107613.

In the case where the smoking system is not fired, the rolled paper may be a tubular member forming a cavity at the mouth end of the smoking article. For example, the roll paper can be a plastic pipe. In addition, any internal structure within the tubular member may be integrally formed with the tubular member or may be otherwise disposed and secured within the tubular member.

The invention further provides a method for making a mouthpiece of the aforementioned smoking article. The method comprises the steps of: providing a roll of paper having one or more indicia laid thereon; providing a plurality of filter elements; disposing the filter elements on the roll of paper, So that the filter elements can be separated by one or more indicia between adjacent filter elements; wrapping the web of paper around a portion of the filter elements such that the roll of paper can be A mouth end cavity having the indicia disposed therein is formed. The mouthpiece made by this method can then be cut along the mouth end to form a plurality of separate filters and expose the mouth end cavity.

In some embodiments, the method produces a mouthpiece that includes all of the elements having more than one mouthpiece or filter. This is often referred to as a multi-stage heavy mouthpiece or multiple filter. Where the multiple filter includes all elements having two filters, it may be referred to as a dual filter. Many other filter types have also been manufactured, such as quadruple filters.

The mouthpiece or filter can then be combined with a wrapped tobacco rod or other type of smoking article. For example, a filter paper can be provided and wrapped around the entire or a portion of the mouthpiece and around a portion of an adjacent tobacco rod, thereby connecting the mouthpiece and the tobacco rod to provide a combined finished smoking article. In the case where the program utilizes a multiple filter, the multiple filter can then be cut through the mouth end cavity of the multiple filter so that two or more finished products can be formed and the mouth can be exposed End cavity. The combination of the mouthpiece or filter with the wrapped tobacco rod or other type of aerosol generating substrate can be accomplished on a machine line or off-machine, and the machine is separate from the machine used to make the mouthpiece.

The indicia can be continuously printed on the web, and in this embodiment there is no need to position the filter elements relative to the printed indicia. In an alternate embodiment, the indicia are discontinuously printed and spaced so that the one or more indicia can be placed at the mouth end cavity. In this embodiment, the web and filter elements must be aligned in a straight line so that the indicia can be seen in the mouth end cavity. Preferably, the position of the one or more indicia is aligned using an optical device that positions each indicia.

Marks can be printed on roll paper either online or offline. As used herein, the term "online" means during the manufacture of a mouthpiece or smoking article. One step completes the printing of the mark. The term "offline" means to complete the printing of the mark in a different step. In the case of off-line printing, when making mouthpieces or smoking articles, this procedure can be handled in a different manufacturing facility using a different machine. Alternatively, this off-line printing can be performed using a different machine located in a position separate from the machine used to make the mouthpiece or smoking article.

The invention will be further described below in conjunction with the drawings.

1 shows a perspective view of a smoking article 100, which includes a filter section 102, a tobacco rod 104, and a mouth end cavity 106. As can be seen, the mouth end cavity 106 has indicia on the inside which is in text form in this particular example. This text is oriented such that when the smoker grips the smoking article in the usual manner, the text can be read by the smoker. Likewise, in the case of this marking system pattern or the like, these patterns are also oriented in a similar manner. The smoking article has a diameter of about 7.85 mm and a length of about 84 mm. The mouthpiece 101 having the mouth end cavity 106 and the filter section 102 has a length of about 32 mm. The mouth end cavity has a depth of about 5 mm and a diameter of about 7.45 mm. Thus, the inner surface area of the web defining the cavity is about 117 mm ² , and the mouthpiece can be used to show the total surface area of the mark and the like 874 mm ² , or the inner surface area of the web defining the cavity is about the mouth piece 13% of the total visible surface area.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment of a smoking article constructed in accordance with the present invention. The smoking article comprises: a tobacco rod 104, or any other type of tobacco-containing or nicotine-containing aerosol generating substrate; a mouthpiece 101; and a filter Mouth paper 202, which is used to connect the tobacco rod 104 to the mouthpiece 101. The mouthpiece 101 includes a mouth end cavity 106 defined by a roll of paper 212 and a filter paper 202. The mouthpiece 101 also includes two filter sections 204 and 206. Each filter section is wrapped in a respective plunger package 208 and 210. A venting area in the shape of a plurality of small holes 214 is provided upstream of the mouth end cavity of the mouthpiece 101. In this embodiment, the apertures 214 are disposed adjacent the filter section 204 and extend through the plunger wrapper 208, the web 212, and the filter paper 202. Alternatively, in the case where the plunger wrap 208 is porous, the apertures may extend only through the roll paper 212 and the filter paper 202. Additionally, in the case where the web 212 is porous, the apertures may extend only through the filter paper 202.

The mouth end cavity provides an inner surface area for displaying the indicia. This mark or the like is printed on the inner surface of the roll paper 212.

The roll paper 212 has a basis weight of about 70 gsm to provide sufficient rigidity so that the mouth end cavity 106 does not collapse when the smoking article is aspirated.

Figure 3 shows the inner surface of the roll paper 204 with the unconnected indicia 300 printed in a reproducible manner. During the continuous manufacture of the mouthpiece, the web of paper 212 having the pre-printed indicia accommodates a plurality of sections of the filter material that are wrapped in the plunger package to form a complete mouthpiece having a mouth-end cavity. The filter segments are disposed on the web of paper so that each set of filter segments can be separated by indicia disposed in the open space. An optical calibration device can be used to ensure that the filter segments are aligned in line with the indicia. The manufacturing apparatus is adapted to cut the mouthpieces into a plurality of sets having two mouthpieces. A group each having a two-piece member is attached at the mouth end. The length of the double mouthpiece is suitable for use in standard cigarette manufacturing equipment.

The tobacco rod is disposed at an end of the mouthpiece opposite the mouth end cavity in a linear alignment with the mouthpiece and attached to the mouthpiece having the filter paper. The filter paper and roll paper are cut along line A-A such that a portion of the web containing the one or more indicia extends beyond the filter segments of each mouthpiece so that the mouth end cavity can be defined.

It will be appreciated that although the specific embodiments described above relate to smoking articles having a filter and a tobacco rod, a similar mouth-end cavity configuration can be used as described above for a non-combustible smoke. On the product.

100‧‧‧Smoking

101‧‧‧ mouthpiece

102‧‧‧ filter section

104‧‧‧ tobacco rod

106‧‧‧ mouth cavity

202‧‧‧ filter paper

204‧‧‧Filter section

206‧‧‧ filter section

208‧‧‧Plunger packing materials

210‧‧‧Plunger packing materials

212‧‧‧Roll paper

214‧‧‧ hole

300‧‧‧ mark

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a smoking article having a mouth cavity in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a smoking article constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a roll paper implemented in accordance with the present invention having unconnected indicia laid on the inner surface.

100‧‧‧Smoking

101‧‧‧ mouthpiece

102‧‧‧ filter section

104‧‧‧ tobacco rod

106‧‧‧ mouth cavity

Claims (15)

A smoking article comprising: a tobacco rod; and a mouthpiece comprising at least one segment, and a roll of paper constraining the at least one segment and defining a mouth end cavity, the mouthpiece being The rod is axially aligned and has a rod end adjacent the rod and a mouth end opposite the rod end; wherein the one or more indicia are disposed to define the mouth end cavity On the inner surface of the roll paper portion. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the one or more marked rolls are a plunger package. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the smoking article further comprises a filter paper that constrains the mouthpiece and connects the mouthpiece and the tobacco rod. The smoking article of claim 3, wherein the filter paper extends beyond the at least one segment of the mouthpiece such that the filter paper can be stacked over the plunger package defining the mouth cavity Partially. The smoking article of claim 2, wherein the plunger package comprising one or more indicia extends partially along the length of the mouthpiece from the mouth end such that a portion of the rod end is located at the end of the rod The mouthpiece is not covered by the plunger package. The smoking article of claim 5, wherein the smoking article comprises a venting area disposed at a portion of the mouthpiece that is not covered by the plunger package. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the one or more marked rolls are a filter paper that constrains the mouthpiece and connects the mouth And the rod. The smoking article of claim 7, wherein the mouthpiece is first wrapped with a substantially transparent plunger package, and the filter paper is wrapped around the substantially transparent plunger package to enable the marking It can be seen through the substantially transparent plunger package. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the at least one segment comprises a filter comprising one or more filter segments. A smoking article according to item 1 of the patent application, wherein an additional marking is provided on the outer surface of the mouthpiece. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the indicia in the cavity of the mouth end is a non-contiguous indicia that is aligned within the cavity at the mouth end. The smoking article of claim 1, wherein the indicia in the cavity of the mouth is a continuous pattern or image that is printed in the cavity at the mouth end. A method for making a mouthpiece for a smoking article, comprising the steps of: providing a roll of paper having one or more indicia laid thereon; providing a plurality of filter elements; Arranging elements on the roll of paper such that the filter elements are separated by one or more indicia between adjacent filter elements; and wrapping the roll of paper in the filter A portion of the mouth member is positioned to cause the web of paper to form a mouth end cavity and the indicia is disposed within the mouth end cavity. For example, the method of claim 13 of the patent application, wherein an optical package is utilized The position of the one or more indicia is positioned so that each mouthpiece can be placed adjacent to a indicia. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein in the step of providing a roll of paper having one or more indicia thereon, the one or more indicia have been laid on the roll first on the line. On the paper sheet.