ES2344528T3 - FILTER FOR SMOKING ITEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

A filter element (4) having a longitudinally extending core and an envelope (8) applied around the core, wherein the core comprises a filtering material (6) and the envelope (8) comprises a material (9 ) in particles adhered to two or more portions of said envelope (8), wherein said two or more portions are circumferentially separated from each other and at least one of said two or more portions extends throughout the entire longitudinal travel of said envelope (8), and the particulate material (9) comprises one or more sorbents capable of absorbing constituents in the vapor phase of the smoke.

Description

Filter for smoking article.

The present invention relates to an element of tobacco smoke filter, a filter comprising the same and smoking articles comprising a filter and / or an element of filter.

The use of carbon or activated carbon in tobacco smoke filter elements for reduce vapor constituents of smoke. Commonly, it has used carbon in a double filter arrangement, splashing the carbon granules on a cellulose acetate tow sticky, which now congregates in a conventional manner and cuts in double or triple unit extensions. Extensions double units of acetate containing carbon are intertwined then with simple cellulose acetate filter elements that They have double unit extensions. The interlaced sets are wrapped in a taco wrap and then cut through the midpoint of both the double unit extension of Carbon-containing filter element as the unit extension double simple cellulose acetate to provide elements of wrapped filters that have a section that contains carbon adjacent to a section that does not contain carbon. This type of filter It is known as an active acetate filter or AA.

Alternatively, carbon has been used in a triple filter arrangement well with the carbon incorporated in the bast of cellulose acetate, as described above and as described in the UK Patent specification number 1,087,909, or with the carbon staying freely in a cavity between two wads of tobacco smoke filtering material, tale as cellulose acetate, as described in the patent American number 4,185,645.

Another alternative and produced carbon filter Commercially it is the ACT Filter (Active Carbon Strand) manufactured by Filtrona K, where the carbon of the central section adheres to a strand of cotton and then surrounded with cellulose acetate. The carbon strand section offers the lowest trajectory resistance and most of the smoke crosses the center of carbon.

A disadvantage of the double and / or triple filter before mentioned is that once the filter rod has formed (it is say, when filters are produced continuously), the rod will It has to cut at a specific point in it. In this way, it is necessary to have the cutting device and the point aligned specific to the rod (that is, at the midpoint of both the double / triple unit extension of filter element containing carbon as the double / triple unit extension of acetate simple cellulose) before cutting the filter rod. In high speed manufacturing, this can slow down production of filters and / or result in filters that do not pass the tests quality due to the fact that the rod has been misaligned Regarding the cutter.

An additional known alternative to include carbon or other filter additives consists of adhering particles of the additive to a wrap around the filter element. The GB 2,260,477 and GB 2,261,152 documents describe various additive adhesion configurations.

A first aspect of the present invention is refers to a filter element that has a core that extends longitudinally and to a wrap coupled around the core, wherein the core comprises a filtering material and the envelope comprises a particulate material adhered to two or more portions of said envelope, wherein said two or more portions are circumferentially separated from each other and at least one of said two or more portions extends over the entire longitudinal extent of said envelope, and the particulate material comprises one or more sorbents capable of absorbing constituents in the vapor phase of the smoke.

The two or more portions may be arranged. symmetrically around the envelope.

The two or more portions may comprise two portions arranged in diametral opposition through the nucleus.

Alternatively, the two or more portions may comprise three, four, five, six, seven or eight portions.

In some embodiments, the core may further comprise an interdispensed particulate material in the filtering material

The particulate material of the core can be the same as the particulate material adhered to the two or more portions of the wrap. Alternatively, the material in core particles may be different from the particulate material adhered to the two or more portions of the wrap.

The particulate material adhered to each of The two or more portions of the wrap may be the same. Alternatively, the particulate material adhered to one of the two or more portions of the wrap may be different from the material in particles adhered to at least one of the other two or more portions of the wrap.

In some embodiments, the envelope may also comprise ventilation means. For example, the means of ventilation may comprise one or more ventilation holes arranged in gaps between the two or more portions.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a filter comprising one or more filter elements according to the first aspect.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a smoking article comprising a filter element according to the first aspect and / or a filter according to the second aspect, mutually fixed with a rod of smokable filter material. He Smoking item can be a cigarette. The cigarette can have a circumference of about 10 mm to about 19 mm

Preferably, the particulate material includes sorbents (for example, selected from carbon activated, charcoal, silica gel, sepiolite, alumina, ion exchange material, etc.), pH modifiers (for example, alkaline materials such as Na2CO3, acidic materials), flavorings, other solid additives and mixtures thereof.

Advantageously, the particulate material is select from a group of surface area materials relatively large capable of adsorbing smoke constituents without a high degree of specificity Adsorbents can be selected suitable for the group consisting of carbon, activated carbon, carbon activated vegetable, activated coconut carbon, carbon or charcoal based on activated carbon, zeolite, silica gel, sea foam, aluminum oxide (activated or not), carbonic resin or combinations thereof.

An example of charcoal based charcoal suitable is made from semiantracite carbon with a density approximately 50% higher than charcoal based in coconut (available in Calgon Carbon, Pittsburgh, PA, WA).

An example of a suitable carbonaceous resin is the derived from styrene-divinyl pyrolysis sulfonated benzene, such as Ambersorb 572 or Ambersorb 563 (available in Rohm and Haas). To increase the efficiency of general adsorbent can be optionally included or impregnated adsorbent metal oxides or other metal-based complexes in the general adsorbent section.

Particularly, in one embodiment, the material in particles used herein is carbon, for example activated carbon, or charcoal or other absorbent material. Preferably, in one embodiment, the activated carbon is carbon of activated coconut.

Any particulate material used can be a single substance or mixture, and / or may be combined with another material.

Suitably, the particulate material can cover portions of the interior or exterior surface of the envelope.

Preferably, the particulate material is arranged in independent regions circumferentially separated One of another.

Preferably, in one embodiment, the material in particles is arranged in two independent regions circumferentially separated from each other. Alternatively, the particulate material may be arranged in 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 independent regions, each circumferentially separated from other. In addition, if required, a large number of regions

Each region or independent portion of material in particles may be composed of particulate material that be the same, or different, than that of the other regions independent. Preferably, in one embodiment the material in particles in independent regions is the same.

In one embodiment, the particulate material can be properly applied to two or more portions of the faces longitudinal interior and / or exterior of the envelope.

Preferably, in one embodiment, the material particulate is applied to two or more portions of the inner face longitudinal envelope.

In one embodiment the particulate material is arranged around the inner circumference of the wrap so that the wrap has a longitudinal edge of overlap that is free of said particulate material and that provide an overlapping and glued seam that keeps the wrap around the core

The particulate material can spread continuously throughout the longitudinal extension of said envelope. By continuously it is meant that the material in particles are applied in such a way that the charge at any point of the longitudinal extent of the envelope is the same (or substantially the same) as the load at any other point of the same longitudinal extension of the envelope. By continuously it is meant that at no point along the extension length of the envelope there is a portion of the envelope without particulate material if the particulate material is present in another point along the same longitudinal extent of the envelope. Notably, the particulate material according to the The present invention is not applied in patches along the longitudinal extension of the envelope. Preferably, the material particulate is applied longitudinally to the envelope (by example, a taco wrap) in a continuous manner. Preferably, along the longitudinal axis of the envelope the particulate material is present as a direct current (that is, without breaks or spaces). In other words, the material particulate extends continuously along the axis longitudinal envelope.

The envelope of the filter element is preferably a paper wrap.

In one embodiment, the envelope is a conventional taco wrap.

In one embodiment, the envelope may be a conventional block wrap covering 360º of the core, in which case the taco wrap has an overlapping and glued seam that It keeps the wrap around the core.

Preferably, in one embodiment, the element filter according to the present invention has a core comprising particulate material interdispensed with the filtering material and It has a taco wrap that covers 360º with the core.

In another embodiment, the envelope (in in particular, the cue wrap) does not extend preferably 306º around the core. In other words, preferably in a embodiment, the envelope is a divided envelope. A wrap divided is one that extends circumferentially around the core, but extends less than 360º around the core circumferential. In such an embodiment, there is no overlapping and glued seam that keeps the wrap around the nucleus. Instead, the split wrap can be held in its site by other known means, such as joining the envelope directly to the core, for example.

Preferably, in one embodiment the element filter according to the present invention has a core, comprising a filtering material optionally interdispensed with the particulate material, and has a split envelope.

In one embodiment, when the core comprises only filtering material (i.e. without material in interdispensed particles in it), the envelope is preferably A split wrap.

When particulate material is applied to the wrap of a filter element, to avoid bulging of the sections in which the particulate material is applied, results advantageous to use a wrap (taco wrap) that has a larger base weight compared to taco wrap material conventional. The conventional taco wrap (wrap) has a basis weight of about 23 to about 27 grams per square meter (gsm). In the present application, it is preferable, for Therefore, use a wrapper that has one of the following weights base: 28 gsm or more; 29 gsm or more; 30 gsm or more; 35 gsm or more; 38 gsm or more; 40 gsm or more; 45 gsm or more or 50 gsm; or more.

The envelope for use in the filter element It can be porous or non-porous.

The envelope for use in the filter element It may be ventilated or unventilated.

Advantageously, the filtering material of the core of the filter element may comprise (or consist of) conventional fibrous cellulose acetate, polyethylene material or polypropylene, or puckered paper material.

Preferably, the filtrate It comprises cellulose acetate.

In some embodiments, the material of core filtering of the filter element is composed of fibrous cellulose acetate, polypropylene material, material polyethylene or puckered paper material. Optionally, there may be particulate material interdispensed in it.

Suitably, the particulate material of the core of the filter element, if present, can be one or more of the particulate materials detailed above.

Suitably, the particulate material of the core of the filter element, if present, can be the same or different than the particulate material adhered to the envelope.

In one embodiment, preferably the material in particles of the core of the filter element, if present, it is the same as the particulate material adhered to the envelope.

Preferably, the particulate material of the core of the filter element, if present, is carbon, carbon activated and / or charcoal interdispensed with it, preferably cellulose acetate having carbon or activated carbon interdispensed within the fibers thereof.

In one embodiment, the core of the element of filter is a dalmatia filter.

The particulate material of the core can be homogeneous - in the sense that it is constituted by substantially the same component (in some embodiments, preferably all of it). Alternatively, the material in core particles can be heterogeneous - in the sense that It consists of two or more different components.

The particulate material may be interdispensed throughout the core. Alternatively, the material in particles may be interdispensed in some parts (but not in all) of the nucleus. The parts can be evenly distributed or unevenly.

The particulate material can extend by the entire longitudinal path of the core. Alternatively, the particulate material can extend from one end of the core to a section that is near the other end. Alternatively, the particulate material may be present in discrete areas that do not need to extend from -or be present in- any core end Different areas may have different charges of particulate material and / or different types of material in particles

The particulate material, if present in the core does not need to be evenly distributed through whole core Similarly, the particulate material does not need Distribute evenly with discrete portions or areas. Gaps may exist between discrete portions or areas - no only among them, but also between groups of material in particles An example of the latter is the case in which, in or near each end of the nucleus there is a grouping of portions of the first particulate material, but in which in between each of these two groupings (as in, or near, the longitudinal center of the nucleus) there is an area that does not Have particulate material. Another example of distribution is not uniform would be the case in which at, or near, each end of the filter there is a grouping of portions of the first material in particles, but in which in between each of those two clusters (such as at, or near, the longitudinal center of the core) there is an area that has no less particulate material than either, or both, extreme groupings.

In some embodiments, all or part of the core particulate material extends throughout the extension longitudinal of the nucleus.

The particulate material adhered to the wrap can be homogeneous - in the sense that it is consisting of substantially the same component (in some embodiments, preferably all of it). Alternatively, the particulate material adhered to the envelope it can be heterogeneous - in the sense that it is constituted by Two or more different components. Adhered particulate material to the envelope may be in contact with the core. Preferably, part or all of the particulate material adhered to The wrap is in contact with the core. In some embodiments, is preferably in contact with the core substantially all the particulate material adhered to the envelope.

The filter element is preferably interacopied with a smokable filler rod (for example, tobacco) by means of an emboquillado wrap. Advantageously, The emboquillado wrap is a paper.

In one embodiment the filter element can be the only filter element of the filter when shaped Like a smoking article rod.

In another embodiment, the filter element may Be part of a larger filter. In other words, the element of filter can be part of a composite filter (or component multiple). Suitably, the filter elements of the filter compound are arranged longitudinally with respect to each other, with the end of each filter element resting on the next. Suitably, the composite filter may have 2, 3, 4 or more distinct or discrete sections. However, some filters according to The present invention may be of integral construction, but have the general appearance of a composite filter. In a embodiment, the filter is a triple filter with three sections. In another embodiment, the filter is a double filter with two sections

In the composite filter there is adequately one or more filter elements according to the present invention. When there is more than one filter element according to the present invention in the composite filter, the elements of filter longitudinally next to each other or separated by a conventional filter element, such as a filter element of cellulose acetate.

In a composite filter, the filter element It can be located in any position inside the filter. Without However, suitably the filter element is not located in the mouth end of the filter In a triple filter, for example, the Filter element may be in the middle section. Alternatively, the filter element may be located in the rod end of smoking material (e.g. tobacco) of the filter, that is, at the upstream end.

Suitably, the wrap is preferably precoated with adherent modifying particulate material of smoke

Suitably, the core may be preformed. before application of the coated wrap.

Suitably, the formation of the nucleus and the application of the coated wrap can take place substantially simultaneously.

The particulate material can adhere to the wrap by a hot melt adhesive (for example, various polyester adhesives), high point polyethylene glycol Fusion, or an emulsion type adhesive, such as PVA.

The particulate material can adhere directly or indirectly to the envelope. An example of adherence Direct is when the particulate material is fixed to the envelope (such as its inner surface) by means of a suitable adhesive. An example of indirect adhesion is when the material in particles are fixed to an intermediate layer (which can be made of paper or other suitable support matrix - such as a material textile- or combinations thereof) by means of an adhesive adequate and when the intermediate layer is fixed to the envelope (such as its inner surface) by means of a suitable adhesive.

When the filter element is used in a filter compound, the one or other sections of the composite filter can be composed of conventional cellulose acetate material polypropylene or polyethylene or puckered paper material. One o'clock other sections may optionally comprise one or more additives, for example arranged on or within the material of the filter element, which can be flavoring material additional, as described above, that are released or elute from the filter element by the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating means heated or burned.

Suitably, one or more sections of the filter compound can be an open ended tube and / or a tube of closed ends. In an additional alternative, the composite filter may comprise a section that forms a cavity containing granular material.

Suitably, they can also be used filter elements that have pressure drop characteristics individuals, such as the filter sold by Filtrona and known as The Ratio Filter.

In one embodiment, the composite filter, which it can contain particulate material, it can be a double filter that comprise, for example, a mouth section of cellulose acetate and a filter element according to the present invention at the end of filter tobacco. A section of paper can also be part of a multiple filter.

The composite filter may comprise an element filter that is composed of a selective reduction filter as described in US patent applications numbers US2003-0066539 and US2003-0098030.

The filter plug located at the end of the mouth can be made of a series of materials, for example, bast of cellulose acetate, cellulose, paper, cotton, band polypropylene, polypropylene bast, polyester band, bast of polyester or combinations thereof.

In addition, the pressure drop and / or efficiency of Mechanical filtration of the filter block sections can be selected to achieve smoking mechanics and desired filtering characteristics as required by the specific product design desired.

In a composite filter arrangement you can vary the pressure drop of the blocks / sections of material filtered out.

An additional filter construction that can to be useful in the present invention is that described in our International Patent Application Copendent Number PCT / GB02 / 005603. The ribbed arrangement of the filter described in that document provides that ventilation air enters slots that are extend to the end of tobacco and then this air is redirected towards the mouth end. The result is a decrease of the CO / tar ratio. In combination with materials in particles that selectively reduce vapor phases can be achieved a significant reduction of constituents in the vapor phase.

It is even more preferred than an upstream portion of the tobacco smoke filter comprise an adsorbent material. Preferably, the adsorbent material is a general adsorbent. He general adsorbent material is preferably selected from a group of relatively large surface area materials, such as activated charcoal, which are capable of adsorbing a range of chemical compounds without a high degree of specificity.

Most preferably, the general adsorbent is a carbonaceous material such as, for example, activated charcoal, activated coconut carbon, activated carbon based carbon or synthetically derived carbon.

Suitably, the particulate material can have the shape of a strand, particles / granules, tissue, paper or reconstituted sheet (for example, a reconstituted sheet containing carbon), or any other form that is appropriate.

Preferably, the particulate material has the shape of particles / granules.

A portion of the filter element and / or the filter compound comprising said filter element may comprise a catalyst Advantageously, the catalyst facilitates the conversion of carbon monoxide (CO) to carbon dioxide (CO 2) in the vapor phase of the smoke. It is greatly preferred that the catalyst is highly selective for the monoxide of carbon. Preferably, the catalyst may be one of the group that consists of transition metal oxides, silica, alumina, zeolites, carbon impregnated, for example carbon impregnated with metals

Suitably, the extreme portion of the rod of tobacco from the composite filter and the third portion from the end of the tobacco rod (if present) can be a cavity containing an adsorbent and / or a catalyst or, alternatively, may comprise a conventional smoke filtering material that have an adsorbent and / or a catalyst dispersed therein.

Advantageously, the adsorbent is capable of retain at least a portion of the vapor phase of the smoke.

Suitably, the filter and / or article of smoking according to the present invention may comprise means of ventilation. For example, ventilation means can comprise one or more holes in the envelope coupled around the nucleus. The holes can be advantageously positioned in gaps between the portions of the envelope to which the particulate material Ventilation holes are often formed in filter wraps by laser drilling. Some carbon granules in the region where ventilation is required they can cause the laser to produce sparks when they are Making the holes The positioning of the holes of void ventilation between the portions of the particulate material Address this problem. The arrangement of particulate material on the wrap in discrete separate portions according to the present invention thus facilitates the manufacture of ventilation holes without the risk of spark production.

Possibly, the ventilation means can understand piercing holes in the embossing wrap used to interconnect the filter or filter element and the rod of smokable filler material (e.g. tobacco) wrapped.

Alternatively, the ventilation means by using a wrapper Wrapped porous embossing used together with a taco wrap perforated The porous lip wrap can be porous in all its extension or only in a localized extension, whose extension be aligned with perforated heel wrap underlying.

The ventilation means can be arranged also at or near the end of the filler rod (for example, tobacco) smoked wrapped. Means of ventilation they can be arranged in the emboquillado wrap or in the cigarette paper wrap that wraps the filler material smokable (eg tobacco).

The ventilation means can alternative or additionally be arranged in the place of a member located between the filter element and the filler rod smokable (eg tobacco) wrapped.

Preferably, the ventilation is located in the upstream end of the filter element or to the part upstream of the filter element.

In one embodiment, preferably, the element of filter and / or the filter comprising said filter element are a smoking article filter element, preferably a tobacco smoke filter element.

Suitably, the filter element and / or the filter comprising said filter element may be fixed to a rod of wrapped smokable filler material (i.e. a wrapped tobacco rod, for example) by an over wrap of conventional emboquillado to form a smoking article. The emboquillado wrap can be an envelope wrap ventilation or without ventilation.

The length of the smoking material rod it is advantageously at least 60 mm and the rod must yield preferably not less than six puffs, and most preferably not less than seven puffs when smoking under smoking conditions by machine standards. The rod preferably has a shape and uniform cross-sectional dimensions over the entire length of the rod

The wrapper that surrounds the smoking article may comprise a burn additive, such as sodium citrate and / or potassium, for example, Other suitable burning additives, such as sodium or potassium salts, such as acetate and tartrate; monoammonium phosphate and hydrogen disodium phosphate, for example, They will be known by experts. Advantageously, the additive of burning is present in the range of 0.5-2.5% by weight of the envelope. The wrap can also have a basis weight in the range of 20-40 g / m2.

The wrapping of the smoking article can alternatively or additionally be a paper wrapper, such as the wrappers described in international patent applications, Publication numbers WO 96/07336 and WO 01/415590. Such wraps help reduce smoke components in currents side, but still provide a smoking item that has characteristics of burning and ash formation similar to conventional products, that is, the wraps allow the smoking article burns and forms ashes in a manner similar to that of conventional products.

The envelope can be suitably a paper wrap or substantially non-combustible wrap, as described in WO 96/07336. The subject matter of that request, as far as the envelope is concerned substantially non-combustible, is incorporated herein document by reference. Its wrapping advantageously contains the minus 65% of inorganic particulate filler material, such as the inorganic materials described above.

A wrap of cellulose pulp paper conventional can have a permeability in the range of 2-300 CU, and preferably less than 100 CU. A Wrap of this class can also be a total filler paper under such as described in the European patent application number 0404580 and comprising less than 14% oxide or hydroxide of magnesium, for example.

Suitably, the smokable filler material It may be tobacco material or tobacco substitute material.

Preferably, the smokable material is a tobacco material Suitably, the tobacco material comprises one or more of stem, limbo, tobacco powder. It is preferred that the Tobacco material comprises one or more of the following types: Virginia or smoke-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco, reconstituted tobacco Still much more preferred than the material Smoke comprises a mixture of tobacco material. Advantageously, the smokable material comprises 10-80% tobacco Virginia, 10-60% Burley tobacco, 0-20% of Oriental tobacco, 0-120% of reconstituted tobacco and 0-30% tobacco expanded.

The smoking material of smoking articles, which they comprise a filter element according to the present invention, and / or a filter, comprising a filter element according to the present invention, preferably comprises or consists of chopped tobacco part of which may be expanded tobacco. Smoking material may comprise reconstituted tobacco or substitute material of the tobacco.

The smokable filler material can also understand a burn additive to enhance the properties of Smoked filler material. Depending on the properties of the filler, the burning additive is a combustion accelerator or a combustion retardant Burn additives can be selected suitable from one or more salts of Group I or II metals, such as acetates, citrates and other combustion accelerators known by experts. Suitable combustion retardants include, for example, magnesium hydroxide, monoammonium phosphate, magnesium chloride.

The smokable filler material can also understand an ash enhancement that is advantageously present in the filling in the range of 0-5%. Improvers Appropriate ash includes one or more of mica, perlite, clays, such as, for example, vermiculite, kaolinites, talc, saponites, bentonites, as well as ash improvers, such as hydrogen orthophosphate-disodium, sodium carbonate or diamonium phosphate, for example.

The smokable filler material may comprise an inorganic filler material. Advantageously, the material of inorganic filler is one or more of perlite, alumina, earth diatomácea, calcium carbonate (chalk), vermiculite, oxide magnesium, magnesium sulfate, zinc oxide, calcium sulfate (gypsum), ferric oxide, pumice, titanium dioxide, aluminate of calcium or other indissoluble aluminates or other materials inorganic filler. The density range of the materials is suitably in the range of 0.1-5.7 g / cm3. Advantageously, the inorganic filler material has a density that is less than 3 g / cm3, and preferably less than 2.5 g / cm 3, most preferably less than 2.0 g / cm 3 e even more preferably less than 1.5 g / cm3. Result an inorganic filler having a density less than 1 is desirable g / cm3. An inorganic filler of lower density reduces the Product density, thus improving the characteristics of ash.

The smokable filler material can also Understand an organic filling. Advantageously, the material of organic filling is insert or relatively insert when it is alone, that is, it will not easily maintain combustion, but in a mixture can become more fuel, that is, it will keep the combustion. Suitable organic fillers include alginates insoluble, such as calcium or magnesium alginate, pectinate calcium or alginic acid, as well as an unmodified cellulose, such as pulp of treated and untreated wood or alpha-cellulose, for example. Can also be used mixtures of inert organic fillers and inorganic fillers.

The smokable filler material may comprise aerosol generating means. Preferably, the means aerosol generators are present in the range of 5-20%, more preferably less than 15%, even more preferably more than 7%, and even more preferably more of 10%. Preferably, the aerosol generating means they represent less than 13%. Most preferably, the generating means of aerosol are between 11% and 13%, and can advantageously be in approximately 11.25% or 12.5% by weight of the material of final sheet Suitably, the amount of generating means of spray is selected in combination with the amount of material from Tobacco that must be present in the mixture comprising the smokable filler material of a smoking article. For example in a mixture that comprises a high proportion of sheet material with a low proportion of tobacco material, the sheet material can require in it a lower load level of generating means of aerosol. Alternatively, in a mixture that includes a low proportion of sheet material with a high proportion of material of tobacco, the sheet material may require a level of top load of aerosol generating means.

Suitable aerosol generating means include aerosol forming media selected from alcohols polyhydrics, such as glycerol, propylene glycol and triethylene glycol; esters, such as triethyl citrate or triacetin, hydrocarbons high boiling point, or no polyols, such as glycols, sorbitol or lactic acid, for example. A combination can be used. of aerosol generating means. An additional function of aerosol burner media is the plasticization of the material of sheet. Additional suitable plasticizers include water.

Suitably, the smokable filler material Can comprise a binder. Advantageously, if the binder it is a mixture of alginate and non-alginate binders, and then preferably the binder is composed of at least 50% of alginate, preferably at least 60% alginate and even more preferably at least 70% alginate. The amount of Combined binder required may adequately decrease when a non-alginate binder is used. The amount of alginate in a combination of binders is advantageously increased when decreases the amount of binder combined.

The binder can be a binder organic, such as an alginate, a gum, a cellulose (modified or natural), a pectin or a pectinaceous binder, or salts of the metals of Groups I and II of these binders, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose or sodium alginate.

Very preferred binders are alginic binders that include soluble alginates, such as ammonium alginate, sodium alginate, sodium and calcium alginate, alginate and calcium ammonium, potassium alginate, alginate Tritanol-amine and propylene glycol alginate. The alginic binders provide smoking mechanics preferred and preferred flavor and aroma properties for the smokable filler according to the invention.

Some cellulosic agglutinates include, by example, cellulose derivatives, such as carboxymethyl cellulose of sodium, methylcellulose, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose or cellulose ethers. These binders are preferred for the purpose of extrusion.

Other organic binders include gums, such as gum arabic, ghati gum, gum tragacanth, Karaya, carob, acacia, guar, quince seed or xanthan gum, or gels such as agar, agarose, carrageenans, fucoidane and furcelerano. Likewise, pectin binders and pectinaceous materials. Starches can also be used as organic binders Other suitable gums can be selected by reference to manuals, such as Industrial Gums, Editorial Whistler (Academic Press). Binders can also be used. non-combustible inorganic, such as some cements, by example, Portland cement. Also, combinations of the above

The smokable filler material may comprise one or more flavoring and / or coloring agents. The agents Flavorants on the smoking material rod are designed to contribute to an aerosol that has a flavor characteristic and Unique aroma, although very acceptable, for spray smoke. Flavor and aroma may not necessarily be designed to mimic the taste and aroma of tobacco smoke. Flavoring agents may include aromas of tobacco extract, menthol, vanillin, toffee, aromas of Chocolate or cocoa, for example.

Coloring media, such as, for example, food grade dyes, or dyes, such as licorice, caramel or malt, or extracts thereof, can be used to Darken the color of the filler material. The presence of vermiculite or other organic material, such as iron oxide, also give a darker color to the filling material of the article of smoking.

Advantageously, the smoking material comprises a dye to darken the material and / or a flavoring to impart a particular aroma. Flavoring or coloring materials Suitable include cocoa, licorice, caramel, chocolate or toffee, for example. Granulated or homogenized tobacco can also be used finely ground Also, food coloring can be used approved by the industry, such as El50a (caramel), El 51 (BN gloss black), El53 (vegetable carbon) or El55 (HT brown). Suitable aromatizers include menthol and vanillin, for example. Other wrapping materials may also be suitable. How alternative, the presence of vermiculite or other materials of Inorganic filler can give the material a darker color smoke.

Preferably, the dye is present from 0-10% and can be up to 5-7% by weight of the final smoking material. Advantageously, the dye is less than 7%, preferably less than 6% and more preferably less than 5% of the material of final smoking The use of dye in much less is preferred 4%, less than 3% and less than 2%. Cocoa can be adequately present in the range of 0-5% and licorice may be present in a range of 0-4% by weight of the final smoking material. When the dye is cocoa or licorice, for example, the minimum amount of cocoa to get the desired leaf color is about 3% and for licorice it is about approximately 2% by weight of the final smoking material. Similarly, candy may be properly present in a 0-5% range, preferably less than approximately 2% by weight of the final smoking material, and more preferably about 1.5%. Other suitable dyes include molasses, malt extract, coffee extract, resinoids of tea, St. John's Bread, plum extract or tobacco extract, Mixtures of dyes can also be used.

Also, flavorings may be added to alter the taste and aroma characteristics of the material
smoke.

Advantageously, if used as an alternative a food dye, this is present in a 0-5%, or less, by weight of the final smoking material. The dye may alternatively sprinkle on the sheet after of the manufacture of this one.

Aromas that can be used here invention include volatile aromas, such as menthol, vanillin, Peppermint, spearmint, isopinocamfeol, isomentone, chiller mint (obtained in the house of aromas IFF), neomenthol, oil dill seed or other similar aroma materials, and mixtures thereof. The invention is suitable for any flavoring volatile or semi-volatile

The term "carbon" as used in the This document may be adopted to cover a material that is substantially only carbon and any carbon precursor, such as carbonaceous material. As used herein, the term carbonaceous includes material that has been pyrolyzed, whose material preferably contains carbon, although they may still be Present some products of incomplete combustion. For example, a prepared pyrolyzed coconut fiber can be the material carbonaceous from which carbon is derived.

As used herein, the term "smoking material" means any material that Can be used in a smoking article. This does not mean necessarily that the material itself will necessarily hold the combustion. Smoking material is usually produced as a sheet, and then cut. The smoking material can then mix with other materials to produce a material of smokable padding

An advantage of the present invention is that as at least one of the two or more portions of the particulate material it extends along the entire longitudinal path of said envelope, it is not necessary to align a "patch" of material in particles with a cutter during the production of filters. This It has main advantages during high manufacturing speed.

Another advantage is that if the portions are arranged around the core with a symmetrical separation, it reduce or eliminate any distortion or bending of the filter that may be caused by the presence of the particulate material on the envelope. The symmetrical arrangement allows balancing any tensile force of the particulate material, thus maintaining Straight the filter element.

An additional advantage is that the element of filter according to the present invention allows an increased amount of particulate material (carbon), in said filter compared to conventional filters that have particulate material interdispensed in the nucleus (i.e. without extending the length of the filter). The presence of carbon in the filter has two advantages Main: the first is to deodorize the filter after the smoking item is extinguished (in other words, reduce the "smell of ashtray" in an ashtray); and the second is adsorb or absorb more constituents of smoke during its passage through the filter. Provide the particulate material in separate portions of the wrap allows the amount of particulate material to be varied as required by the selection of the width and number of the portions, compared to the option of adhering material in particles across the entire width of the envelope.

Another advantage is that the present invention allows the arrangement of two or more different types of material in particles inside the filter element. Differences can be in the font and / or type and size, etc.

Also advantageously, the present invention addresses the problem of increasing the load of particulate material (carbon) of the filter, while minimizing the problems of heating during manufacturing, particularly in the case of thin cigarettes These cigarettes have circumferences of 1049 mm (approximately 3-7 mm in diameter), in comparison with standard cigarettes (which have circumferences of 22 mm or more). Document GB 2,175,789 describes certain information about "super thin."

In this regard, the presence of material in carbon particles in a, say, dalmatia filter, tends to cause the filter material to warm up while it is being processed due to friction. The heating effect increases with the loading of the particulate material and also as decrease the diameter of the filter. The heating problem is, therefore, particularly acute in the case of filters for "super thin" cigarettes. The present invention addresses the problem of how to increase the carbon load of the filter without increase heating problems during manufacturing, particularly in the case of thin cigarettes.

In order that the present invention may be easily understood and easily carried out, it will be done reference now, by way of example, to diagrammatic drawings annexes, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cross section longitudinal of a triple filter arrangement with the element of filter of the present invention in the central section;

Figure 2 shows a cross section longitudinal of a double filter arrangement with the element of filter of the present invention in the upstream section,

Figure 3 shows a cross section longitudinal of a filter composed of a single filter element according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a cross section longitudinal of a filter composed of filter elements multiples according to the present invention;

Figure 5a shows a surface of a wrap (taco wrap) that has the particulate material applied to it;

Figure 5b shows a cross section axial of a filter element according to the present invention having the envelope shown in figure 5a.

Figures 6a and 6b and 7a and 7b show wrap surfaces and axial cross sections of filter elements similar to those in figures 5a and 5b, but comprising alternative arrangements of particulate material Over the wrap.

Figures 8a and 8b show a surface of an envelope and an axial cross section of an element of filter similar to those in figures 5a and 5b, but having holes of ventilation according to a further embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a composite filter 1, in particular a triple filter, inter-coupled with a rod 2 of smoking material comprising a smokable filler material (from which only shows a portion). Suitably, filter 1 can be fixed to the rod 2 of film material by a wrap of emboquillado 10. The triple filter comprises three sections (3, 4 and 5). Sections 3 and 5 may be composed of any conventional filtering material. Preferably, sections 3 and 5 are composed of fibrous cellulose acetate. The section Central 4 is a filter element according to the present invention, comprising a filtering material 6, such as acetate cellulose, and a particulate material 7, such as carbon or carbon activated interdispensed in said filtering material. The material 7 in particles in the central core is optional (although it prefer in some embodiments) and thus the core of the section central 4 may be composed of filtering material 6 Only in some embodiments. The central section 4 comprises furthermore a wrap 8 (preferably a wrap material of taco, but with a basis weight of at least 30 gsm), having a 9 particulate material, such as carbon or activated carbon, adhered to it.

Figure 2 shows a composite filter 1, in particular a double filter, inter-coupled with a rod 2 of smoking material comprising a smokable filler material (from which only shows a portion). Suitably, filter 1 can be fixed back to the rod 2 of smoking material by a tip wrap 10. The double filter comprises two sections (3 and 4). The mouth end section 3 may be composed of any conventional filtering material. Preferably, section 3 is composed of cellulose acetate fibrous Section 4 upstream is a filter element according to the present invention, which comprises a filtering material 6, such as cellulose acetate. Optionally, the filtering material 6 it can have a particulate material, such as carbon or carbon activated interdispensed in it. The filter element 4 comprises furthermore a wrap 8 (preferably a wrap material of taco, but with a basis weight of at least 30 gsm), having a 9 particulate material, such as carbon or activated carbon, adhered to him. The wrap can wrap at least 360º of the shaft longitudinal of the nucleus, and have an overlapping and sewn region. Alternatively, the envelope may be a divided envelope. core drive. When the filtering material 6 does not have a particulate material interdispensed in it, the envelope preferably it is a divided envelope.

Figure 3 shows a composite filter 1 only by the filter element 4 according to the present invention interacopied with a rod 2 of smoking material, comprising a smokable filler material (of which only one portion). Again, filter 1 can be properly fixed to the rod 2 of smoking material by a tip wrap 10. The filter section 4 is a filter element according to the present invention, which comprises a filtering material 6, such as acetate of cellulose, and a particulate material 7, such as carbon or activated carbon interdispensed in said filtering material. Particle material 7 of the central core is optional (although it is preferred in some embodiments) and, therefore, the core of the central section 4 may be composed of the filtering material 6 only in some embodiments. The filter element 4 further comprises a wrapper 8 (preferably a material of taco wrap, but with a basis weight of at least 35 gsm), having a particulate material 9, such as carbon or carbon activated, attached to it.

A composite filter is shown in Figure 4 1, in particular a filter that has multiple sections, interacopied with a rod 2 of smoking material comprising a smokable filler material (of which only one portion). The filter 1 can be properly fixed to the rod 2 of smoking material by a tip wrapper 10. The filter The compound comprises five sections here (3, 4, 5.11 and 12). The Sections 3, 5 and 12 may be composed of any material of conventional filtering Preferably, sections 3, 5 and 12 They are composed of fibrous cellulose acetate. Sections 4 and 11 are filter elements according to the present invention, which they comprise filtering material 6, such as cellulose acetate, and a particulate material 7, such as carbon or activated carbon interdispensed in said filtering material. The material 7 in core core particles is optional (although preferred in some embodiments) and therefore the core of sections 4 and 11 may be composed of filtering material 6 only in Some realizations. Sections 4 and 11 further comprise a wrap 8 (preferably a taco wrap material, but with a basis weight of at least 30 gsm), having a material 9 in particles, such as carbon or activated carbon, adhered to it.

Figure 5a shows a surface of a wrap (taco wrap) that has the particulate material applied to her. The particulate material 9 is arranged in independent regions or portions (in this case two regions independent) separated from each other on the inner surface of the envelope 1. Each of the independent regions of material 9 in particles extends only partially through the width of the envelope (3) and longitudinal edges 4a and 4b they are free of particulate material 9, thus providing a seam overlapped and glued free of particulate material when It forms around the nucleus.

Figure 5b shows a cross section axial of a filter element according to the present invention, which It has the envelope shown in Figure 5a. In particular, the filter element comprises a central core 6 composed of filtering material, preferably cellulose acetate, and a 7 particulate material, such as carbon or activated carbon interdispensed in said filtering material. The material 7 in core core particles is optional (although preferred in some embodiments) and thus the core 6 may be composed of filtering material only in some embodiments. Wrapped Around the core is the envelope 1 of Figure 5a. Is according you can see, the particulate material 9 is arranged in two independent regions circumferentially separated from each other. In addition, the particulate material extends only partially around the inner circumference of the envelope 1, such so that the wrapper can have an overlapping seam (not shown) and glued (not shown) that holds envelope 1 around of core 6 in a region where material 9 was not applied in particles to envelope 1 (ie regions 4a and 4b). In in other words, section 4a, 4b forms a gluing zone of the Taco wrap without particulate material. Alternatively, the envelope 1 can be a divided envelope and thus a region (such as, for example, 14a and 4b) may not be covered by a envelope. In the split wrap arrangement, the wrap can be held in place by pasting, for example, the wrap directly to the core.

Figures 6a and 6b correspond to the Figures 5a and 5b, but illustrate an embodiment in which the material 9 in particles is applied to four independent portions of the wrap 1. The four portions are arranged in such a way that when the wrapper 1 is hooked around the core 6, the four portions are arranged symmetrically around the core circumference, as shown in figure 6b. From again, the longitudinal edge sections 4a, 4b of the envelope are leave the particulate material 9 free in order to form a gluing area. In this example, core 6 has no material in particles interdispensed in the filtering material.

Figures 7a and 7b also correspond to Figures 5a and 5b, but illustrate an embodiment with three portions of particulate material 9 applied to envelope 1 and arranged to give a symmetrical separation of the portions around core 6 when wrapper 1 is hooked around the core 6. The longitudinal edges 4a, 4b of the wrapping again forms a glue zone free of material 9 in particles. However, in this example, there is material 7 in particles included in core 6, as in the realization of the figure 5b.

Other amounts of wrap portions with applied particulate material, such like five, six, seven or eight servings. Such provisions may be analogous to those shown in figures 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b because the portions are positioned uniformly and symmetrically around the core However, others could be used separations Also, all portions of a wrapper particular may or may not be of equal width, and may or may not be of Same width as the gaps between the portions. In addition, the gaps of a particular envelope do not need to be all of equal width. Likewise, not all portions of a given envelope need extend over the entire longitudinal path of the envelope. For any number of servings, only one serving needs extend over the entire length; the remaining portion or portion They may or may not extend like this.

Preferably, the separated regions are symmetrically arranged around the circumference of the wrap 1. In other words, the portions of the wrap at which particles are applied are arranged so that the portions be symmetrically separated around the core when the wrap is hooked around the core. The obvious symmetrical arrangement a bending or curving of the element of filter that may arise in a non-symmetrical arrangement if the Adhered particulate material pulls, and distorts, the envelope and, therefore, the filter.

As can be seen from figure 6a and figure 6b, the particulate material 9 extends along the entire path longitudinal of said envelope 1. Preferably, the material 9 in particles continuously extends throughout the entire path longitudinal of said envelope 1.

Figure 8a shows a plan view of a envelope 1 having a particulate material 9 applied to the same in two portions, as previously described with respect to Figure 5a. In addition, this wrap includes ventilation means. In this example, the ventilation means comprise a line of holes or perforations in the envelope, running the line perpendicular to the length of the wrap. When the wrap is positioned around a core 6, the holes form a partial ring of ventilation holes arranged circumferentially around the filter element. This can be see in figure 8b, which is an axial cross section through of a filter element wrapped with the envelope of Figure 8a, along line X-X in figure 8a. Be you will notice that the holes are positioned only in the part of the envelope where there is a gap 22 between the two portions of 9 particulate material. By confining holes in this way away from the particulate material the risk of spark formation when holes are practiced using a conventional laser technique. However, if a technique of alternative hole manufacturing, hole line 20 can extend additionally or completely across the width of the wrap 1, possibly including the portions with the material in particles, to form a complete or almost complete ring of holes around the circumference of the filter element.

Various modifications and variations of described methods and system of the present invention will result evident to those versed in the subject without departing from the scope of the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in relation to specific preferred embodiments, should it is understood that the invention as claimed should not be limited unduly to such specific embodiments. Actually it is intended that various modifications of the modes described for carry out the invention that are obvious to those versed in the matter are within the scope of the following claims.

References

GB 2,260,477

GB 2,261,152

GB 1,087,909

US 4,185,645

US 2003-0066539

US 2003-0098030

PCT / GB02 / 005603

WO 96/07336

WO 01/415590

EP 0.404.580

Claims (15)

1. A filter element (4) that has a core extending longitudinally and a wrapper (8) applied around the core, in which the core comprises a material (6) of filtrate and the envelope (8) comprises a material (9) in particles adhered to two or more portions of said envelope (8), in where said two or more portions are separated circumferentially one of the other and at least one of said two or more portions extends throughout the entire longitudinal path of said envelope (8), and the particulate material (9) comprises one or more sorbents capable of absorbing constituents in vapor phase of smoke 2. A filter element (4) according to the claim 1, wherein the two or more portions are arranged symmetrically around the envelope (8). 3. A filter element (4) according to the claim 1, wherein the two or more portions comprise two portions arranged in diametral opposition through the nucleus. 4. A filter element (4) according to the claim 1 or 2, wherein the two or more portions comprise three, four, five, six, seven or eight portions. 5. A filter element (4) according to a any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the core further comprises a particulate material (7) interdispensed in the filter material (6). 6. A filter element (4) according to the claim 5, wherein the core particulate material (7) it is the same as the particulate material (9) adhered to both or more portions of the wrap (8). 7. A filter element (4) according to the claim 5, wherein the particulate material (7) is different from the particulate material (9) adhered to the two or more portions of the wrap (8). 8. A filter element (4) according to a any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the material (9) in particles adhered to each of the two or more portions of the wrap (8) is the same. 9. A filter element (4) according to a any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the material (9) in particles adhered to one of the two or more portions of the envelope (8) is different from the particulate material adhered to at minus one of the other two or more portions of the envelope (8). 10. A filter element (4) according to a any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the envelope (8) It also comprises one or more ventilation means. 11. A filter element (4) according to the claim 10, wherein the ventilation means comprise one or more ventilation holes (20) arranged in holes (22) between the two or more portions. 12. A filter (1) comprising one or more filter elements (4) cited according to any one of the claims 1 to 11. 13. A smoking article comprising a filter element (4) according to any one of the claims 1 to 11 and / or a filter (1) according to claim 12 inter-coupled with a rod (2) of smokable filler material. 14. A smoking article according to the claim 13, wherein said article is a cigarette. 15. An article of smoking according to claim 14, wherein said cigarette has a circumference of approximately 10 mm to approximately 19 mm.