DE102005009608A1 - Filter for articles of the tobacco processing industry - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter for articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular for cigarettes, comprising at least a first and a second filter component. The filter according to the invention is characterized in that the first filter component comprises polyethylene fibers (1) and the second filter component comprises a granulate (2).

Description

The The invention relates to a filter for articles of tobacco processing Industry, in particular for cigarettes, comprising at least a first and a second filter component.

From the EP 1 354 522 A2 The applicant is aware of a cigarette filter and a method for producing the same, wherein a filter component is a variety of a multicomponent fiber, wherein the length of the multicomponent fibers is smaller than the length of the filter. The multicomponent fiber comprises a sheath made of a material having a lower melting point than the core of the multicomponent fiber. In the manufacture of the filter, at least one kind of multiple-component fibers whose length is smaller than the length of the filter to be produced is formed into a strand. Subsequently, the fiber strand is heated to a temperature which is above the melting temperature of the sheath of the multicomponent fibers.

Subsequently, the fiber strand is cooled to a temperature which is below the melting temperature of the sheath of the multicomponent fibers. As a result, a cross-linking of the multiple-component fibers is made possible with each other, which allows a firm connection of the multiple-component fibers with each other. It is according to the EP 1 354 522 A2 also provided to provide other ingredients such as other types of fibers or granules such as activated carbon granules. In this case, the first filter component in the form of multiple-component fibers then adheres to the further filter components at points of contact or stick to them, so that a corresponding retention of the granules or other types of fibers is made possible.

The EP 1 354 522 A2 , from which the present invention proceeds, is intended to be incorporated in full in the disclosure of the present application.

It The object of the present invention is to specify a filter which has a homogeneous structure and is easy to manufacture. It is another object of the invention to provide a corresponding filter indicate the cost-effective is.

Is solved this task through a filter for articles of tobacco processing Industry, especially for Cigarettes comprising at least a first and a second filter component, wherein the first filter component comprises polyethylene fibers and the second filter component comprises a granulate. Preferably that has Granules have a filtering effect and / or gives a flavor from.

in this connection is surprisingly It has been found that polyethylene fibers also act as binder fibers can be used when heated in nearby of the melting point of the polyethylene for a short time not in to coincide with drops, but a connection with the generate additional filter components, so that a stable composite the filter components is achieved.

Preferably The granules comprise a powder and / or spheres. Within the scope of the invention The term granules also includes the terms granules, aggregates from powder particles, crushed / granular or powdery material and pellets. The granules may be asymmetric or symmetrical Have shape. It is particularly preferred if the second filter component Activated carbon, ion exchange resin and / or alumina. The second filter component can be, for example, sugar, activated carbon from brown and hard coal or coke, charcoal from charred plants or plant parts such as woods or nutshells and / or besides Silicon oxides, zeolites, hopcalites, said ion exchange resins, preferably with functional groups, marble, limestone, expanded clay, organophilic modified expanded clay and phyllosilicates and aerated concrete, silica gel and titanium oxide.

One particularly stable bond in the filter is given when the Ingredients of the granules or the granules or granules and / or the balls have a diameter of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.

A especially good filter function is guaranteed if the length of the Polyethylene fibers is smaller than the length of the filter. Preferably is the length the polyethylene fibers between 0.5 mm and 30 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 8 mm, and more preferably between 3 mm and 6 mm. Preferably, the length is the polyethylene fibers before the heat treatment longer as after the heat treatment.

Preferably The polyethylene fibers inside the fibers have higher polyethylene Density and outdoors Low density polyethylene.

By providing such polyethylene fibers, the stability of the produced filter can be significantly increased. For example, HDPE of high density polyethylene can be used inside the fiber. This material has a density of about 0.94 g / cm ³ to 0.965 g / cm ³ .

The outer region may be made of LDPE of low density polyethylene having a density of about 0.915 g / cm ³ to 0.935 g / cm ³ may be LLDPE or linear low density polyethylene.

The Fiber shape can for be this kind of fibers around.

In Another embodiment of the invention are the polyethylene fibers Fibers of one grade polyethylene, for example LDPE fibers, HDPE fibers, LLDPE fibers or, for example, also HMW-LDPE (HMW from High Molecular Weight) as well as UHMW-HDPE (UHMW from Ultra High Molecular Weight).

in this connection it is preferred if the degree of crystallinity of the polyethylene fibers in as close as possible Fluctuation range exists. The fiber shape is with these fibers preferably round or trilobal.

When preferably provided at least one further third filter component can Fleece forming fibers may be provided such as natural fibers or plastic fibers. Natural fibers can Cellulose, cotton, flax, hemp and sheep's wool fibers in their natural Length or cut to a certain length be. As synthetic fibers come acetate fibers, PE fibers with a higher density as the binder fibers of polyethylene, polypropylene fibers, lyocell fibers, polylactic acid fibers (PLA) or polylactide glycolic acid fibers (PLGA fibers) in different cutting lengths from 1 mm to 24 mm and in different specific fiber weights from 0.7 dtex to 72 dtex in question. For nonwoven forming fibers Polyethylene is preferred to use those whose melting point above the temperature for melting the binder fibers made of polyethylene. For example, as Bonding fibers LDPE fibers and non-woven fibers HDPE fibers Use Find

One particularly preferred filter is given when the granule content on the filter 35 wt.% To 95 wt.%, In particular 70 wt.% To 90 % By weight, is.

It was possible without problems Produce filter with a granulate content of 12 to 15 mg / mm Filter and a fiber content of 1.5 to 2.5 mg / mm filter. The indication applies to Filters with a diameter of 6 to 11 mm, especially 7.8 mm (kingsize format). As a preferred embodiment were filters with 90% activated carbon granules and 10% polyethylene fibers, 80% activated carbon granules with 20% polyethylene fibers, 70% activated carbon granules with 30% polyethylene fibers and 60% activated carbon granules and 40 % Polyethylene fibers produced. These are Gew. %.

To the activated carbon granules can other granules or spheres and to the polyethylene fibers as well more fibers are added. It can also filter with PE fibers and only balls are made.

Preferably the polyethylene fibers are binder fibers and miteinan and with the Granules connected. However, this is not necessarily so so that each binding fiber is also connected to another binding fiber is. It really can be that a binder fiber with several granules or granules parts connected and with the granules again other binding fibers are connected. Under the term is connected in the context of the invention especially glued and adherent understood. This can be a chemical compound prevail or a mechanical connection, for example, by a Kraftformschluss or a positive connection.

Preferably are the PE fibers re-solidified after melting, that when melting the fibers in the neighborhood Granules binds to each other.

• – Mischen der ersten Filterkomponente mit der zweiten Filterkomponente,
• – Formen eines Filterstrangs aus dem Gemisch,
• – Erwärmen des Filterstrangs bis wenigstens annähernd zur Schmelztemperatur der ersten Filterkomponente,
• – Abkühlen des Filterstrangs und
• – Ablängen des Filterstrangs in Filter.

A preferred method of making a filter as described above comprises the following steps:

• Mixing the first filter component with the second filter component,
• Forming a filter strand from the mixture,
• Heating the filter strand to at least approximately the melting temperature of the first filter component,
• - cooling the filter strand and
• - Cutting the filter strand into filters.

The Heat the filter strand is preferably at a temperature above the melting temperature of the first filter component, for example so short that this filter component does not melt completely. However, it is also possible by heat treatment of the produced filter strand completely melt the polyethylene fibers to let and the material of polyethylene itself with the granules ingredients to connect to the filter, so that connections between the individual granules even though it is possible is that the fiber is deformed. The polyethylene fibers melt preferably on or at least soft on.

By Polyethylene fibers as a binding medium, it is possible with a maximum Amount of granules and the like To load materials or substances.

Preferably the mixing happens before and / or during the forming of the filter strand.

below The invention is without limitation of the general inventive idea using exemplary embodiments described, with all unspecified in the text details according to the invention expressly is referred to the drawings. It shows:

1 a scanning electron micrograph of a section through a filter according to the invention.

1 shows a scanning electron micrograph of a section through a filter according to the invention, which consists of 90 wt. Granules of activated carbon and 10 wt.% Polyethylene fibers. The polyethylene fibers are indicated by the reference numeral 1 provided and the activated carbon granules by the reference numeral 2 , A melting point is indicated by the reference numeral 3 represented, wherein this melting point of two polyethylene fibers 2 can be seen within the drawn circle. In the lower part of the scanning electron micrograph a scale is shown, which extends over the length of one millimeter.

For the production of the filter, reference is made in particular to the EP 1 464 241 A1 the applicant. This patent application describes in detail the production of a nonwoven fabric for the production of filters of the tobacco processing industry as well as a filter strand production device and the method for the production of a filter strand. It will be especially on the 13 . 15 and 17 to 20 and the associated figure descriptions for mixing the filter components and the formation of a nonwoven on a Saugstrangförderer reference, it is known in the art that the Saugstrangförderer followed by a strand forming device, then then, for example, a heat treatment device or the heating step can follow. The disclosure of the EP 1 464 241 A1 shall be fully incorporated in the disclosure of this patent application.

The Mixing of the filter materials may preferably be prior to final singulation the filter materials or a part thereof. The mixing process However, it can also be done shortly before introduction into a fluidized bed.

Alternatively, it is possible to manufacture a filter strand and the filters on an applicant's AF / AC / KDF machine. With this known machine filter from infinitely long fibers, for example made of polyethylene, granules, such as activated carbon granules are brought in the module AC in the fibers, so that a corresponding mixing is done. A corresponding AF / KDF machine is from the EP 0 919 144 B1 known, which should be included in full in the disclosure of this patent application. The AF / AC / KDF machine is then designed such that the granule feed device is arranged between the KDF part and the AF part. For example, other filter materials may also be added, as in 2 of the DE 103 52 152.6 the applicant is shown. There, further filter materials are introduced into an endless fiber strand or endless fiber tow. According to the present invention, for example, instead of the cellulose ester fibers from which Fasertow according to the DE 103 52 152.6 is made to put polyethylene fibers.

at the polyethylene fibers are preferably those of the type TWR04805-1 crimped at 33 crimps / 10 cm, 6.7 dtex or 8.25 dtex, 5 mm in length, the company FiberVisions. Preferably, the binder fibers have a essentially the same length. The melting point is 162 ° C. It can too Polyethylene fibers of the type Polysteen Cut, uncrimped, 4.5 dtex, 5 mm long, melting point 132 ° C, used by the company Polysteen.

The in 1 For example, the filter shown was made according to a method described in U.S. Pat EP 1 464 241 A1 the applicant is shown. The corresponding manufactured filter strand, around which a wrapping material is wound, moves at a speed of 20 m per minute through a microwave heater following the pattern set. Following the microwave oven, the wrapping material, in this embodiment cigarette paper, has a surface temperature of 140 ° C.

Claims (16)

Filter for articles of the tobacco processing industry, in particular for cigarettes, comprising at least a first and a second filter component, characterized in that the first filter component comprises polyethylene fibers and the second filter component comprises a granulate. Filter according to claim 1, characterized in that the granulate comprises a powder and / or spheres. Filter according to claim 1 or 2, characterized that the second component activated carbon, ion exchange resin and / or Includes alumina. Filter according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the constituents of the granules and / or the balls have a diameter of 0.3 mm up to 0.8 mm. Filter according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the length of the polyethylene fibers smaller is as the length of the filter. Filter according to claim 5, characterized in that the length the polyethylene fibers between 0.5 mm and 30 mm, in particular between 2 mm and 8 mm, and in particular between 3 mm and 6 mm. Filter according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the polyethylene fibers in the interior high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene outside Have density. Filter according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the polyethylene fibers fibers of a Polyethylene grade. Filter according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one third filter component is provided. Filter according to claim 9, characterized in that the third filter component comprises nonwoven fibers. Filter according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the proportion of granules in the filter 35th % By weight to 95% by weight, in particular 70% by weight to 90% by weight. Filter according to one or more of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the polyethylene fibers are binder fibers are and are connected to each other and / or with the granules. Filter according to claim 12, characterized in that that the polyethylene fibers re-solidified after melting Fibers are that bind the granules together. Method for producing a filter according to one or more of the claims 1 to 13, with the following process steps: - Mix the first filter component with the second filter component, - To shape a filter strand from the mixture, - Heating the filter strand until at least approximately to the melting temperature of the first filter component, - cooling the Filter strand and - Cutting to length Filter strand in filter. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that that mixing before and / or during the shaping of the filter strand happens. Filter cigarette with a filter after one or several of the claims 1 to 13.