JP2021177763A - Smoking article filter - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a refined, reproducible and trustworthy looking smoking article filter.SOLUTION: The invention provides a mouthpiece or filter 1 comprising a longitudinally extending (e.g. cylindrical) rod 2 of filtering material including a longitudinally extending channel 3 which extends along the full length of the mouthpiece or filter. The smoking article filter 1 may be manufactured by pulling a continuous bundle of cellulose acetate filamentary tow, optionally with triacetin already applied thereto, through a fix die having an external diameter comparable to a desired external diameter of the filter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a filter for smoking articles.

A commonly used filter material in smoking article filters is a continuous tow of filamentous cellulose acetate plasticized with triacetin, which is collected to form a solid cylindrical rod of filter material. The solid cylindrical rod of filter material is then chopped into segments to provide individual filters.

Traditional cigarette-like smoking items are the most commonly sold filtered smoking items. In a smoked article with a filter, the filter is attached to the tobacco rod using, for example, one or more wrappers.

Marijuana smoking items, also known as "joints," are generally hand-wound by smokers. Marijuana smoking articles typically do not include filters containing cylindrical rods of acetate fiber. This is because cellulose acetate is believed to overfilter the active ingredient in marijuana smoke, such as CBD and / or THC. Many marijuana smokers prefer to smoke marijuana smoking items using a mouthpiece prepared by a rudimentary smoker, commonly known as a "roach." Roaches are generally prepared by forming a conical mouthpiece by rolling a strip of paperboard at an angle to the edge of the strip.

The roach does not filter the marijuana smoke very well and also simply prevents heat from the smoke and / or burning particles in the smoke, for example, preventing burning of the smoker's lips from burning marijuana particles during inhalation. To work.

The disadvantages of roach are that it takes a considerable amount of time for smokers to prepare and that it has an unwanted, unreliable, and unreproducible, crude appearance. Moreover, the roach does not provide the same hardness and / or experience as manufactured tobacco filters.

Therefore, a sophisticated, reproducible use with marijuana smoking articles for use as "Roll Your Own" products or for use in manufactured filtered marijuana smoking articles (eg, cigarettes). It is desirable to provide a smoking article filter with a sexual and reliable appearance. Smoking article filters prevent burns on smoker's lips and are as reproducible as modern filtered cigarettes without significantly reducing the amount of active ingredient in marijuana smoke (like roaches). It is desirable to provide a sleek, sophisticated and reliable look.

According to the present invention, in a first aspect, the longitudinal direction of the filter material comprising at least one longitudinally extending channel extending along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter (eg, penetrating the entire length). A mouthpiece or filter (eg, for use in smoking articles) is provided that includes a rod (eg, cylindrical) that extends to. The channel is
It is wrapped in the filter material along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter, but is preferably open at both ends.

According to the present invention, in one aspect, a mouthpiece or filter comprising a tubular rod extending longitudinally of the filter material (eg, for use in smoking articles) is provided, the inner surface of the tubular rod of the filter material. Defines at least one (eg, cylindrical) channel that extends (eg, penetrates) the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter.

The rod extending longitudinally of the filter material may have a uniform cross section along its entire length (eg, with a uniform annular cross section along its entire length such that the inner surface of the annular cross section defines the channel). Please understand that there may be). The channel may have a uniform cross section along its entire length. The channel may have a circular cross section or another cross section (eg, star, crescent, flower, cruciform, X-shaped, etc.).

In another example, the rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the filter material has a uniform outer diameter dimension along its entire length (even if it has a uniform cross section along its overall length, it is not a uniform cross section. May be good)
The channel is spiral around the longitudinal axis of the filter (eg, the channel is spiral around the longitudinal axis of the filter). The spiral channel provides coldness while filtering the smoke to a minimum, as it increases the distance that marijuana smoke must travel to reach the smoker's lips. This advantage is not possible when using existing roach technology.

Most of the smoke passes directly through the smoker's mouth, but the mouthpiece has some filtering effect because the inner sidewall of the filter material rod reduces the amount of mainstream smoke produced by the smoking article. It will be understood that there is. Therefore, the mouthpiece of the present invention may be called a filter. The level of filtration provided by the mouthpiece or filter can be changed according to the user's preference by changing the characteristics of the mouthpiece or filter, for example by changing the diameter of the channels present. The level of filtration can be varied, for example, from no filtration to some filtration (eg 2-3%).

The present invention provides many advantages over prior art. The mouthpiece or filter according to the invention allows the smoke component to be concentrated towards the user and to cool the smoke as it reaches the user. The mouthpiece or filter can also prevent embers or liberated particulate matter from reaching the user's mouth and also provide a grip point for the user's fingers at the edges of the product. Further, the mouthpiece or filter of the present invention gives the user a unique visual experience, for example, by having a particular color (eg, red, yellow or green) or by allowing discoloration during use of the product. Can be provided.
The mouthpiece or filter can provide a tobacco-like smoking experience (eg, in terms of mouthfeel) due to the uniformity and hardness of the mouthpiece, and / or facilitate the creation of "joints". be able to.

Channels are circular, semi-circular (D-shaped), square, triangular, hollow star, toroidal,
It can be a pentagonal, cog-shaped cross section, or a cross section in the shape of a logo or other pattern. Mouthpieces or filters with non-cylindrical channels, especially channel mouthpieces or filters with complex and / or asymmetric cross-sectional profiles.
Can be particularly useful in the fight against anti-counterfeiting. A channel mouthpiece or filter whose channel is not uniform in cross section along its entire length can also be useful in combating anti-counterfeiting.

The channel extending over the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter may be a uniform cross section along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter. The rod of the filter material preferably has a uniform outer diameter along its entire length (eg, a cylinder with uniform dimensions along its entire length).

The channel mouthpiece or filter is optionally by pulling a continuous bundle of cellulose acetate filament tow already applied with triacetin via a fixed die having an outer diameter equivalent to the desired outer diameter of the mouthpiece or filter produced. Can be manufactured.
The fixed die comprises a protruding inner rod (or mandrel) extending through the die having a cross-sectional profile equivalent to the desired cross section of the channel. When the filament toe is pulled through the die, the filament toe passes around the inner rod so that when exiting the die, a mouthpiece or filter with a channel having a cross-sectional profile equivalent to that of the inner rod is formed. .. Heating steam may be applied to the filament tow while it is in the die. The heated steam may be applied through a duct in the die. The heated steam may be to cure the plasticizer applied to the filament tow (if any), allowing the mouthpiece or filter to maintain the shape of the die after it leaves the die.

Excessive filtration of large amounts of smoke (eg marijuana smoke, eg hemp smoke, eg oregano smoke) by including channels that extend along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter (eg, penetrate the entire length). It can be reached directly to the smoker's mouth without the need for. The mouthpiece or filter also provides a sophisticated look and prevents the smoker's fingers and / or mouth from being burned.

The mouthpiece or filter of the present invention may include a single channel. or,
The mouthpiece or filter of the present invention may include a plurality of channels. The mouthpiece or filter has 1 to 20 channels, eg 1 to 10 channels, eg 2-1.
It can include 0 channels, eg 1-5 channels, eg 2-5 channels, eg 3 channels, eg 1 channel. If the mouthpiece or filter of the invention contains multiple channels, they can be arranged in several different ways, such as a triangular pattern, eg a circular pattern, eg a square pattern. By using multiple channels, the smoke can be further cooled and the embers can be prevented from reaching the user's mouth.

In one embodiment, if the mouthpiece or filter comprises a single longitudinally extending channel, the longitudinally extending rod of the filter material is its overall length such that the inner surface of the annular cross section defines the channel. Can be a uniform annular cross section along. In another embodiment, if the mouthpiece or filter comprises three longitudinally extending channels, the longitudinally extending rod of the filter material is to its entire length so that the channels are arranged in a triangular pattern. It can be a uniform cross section along (see, eg, FIG. 4).

The filter material may be, for example, any of the materials conventionally used in the manufacture of cigarette smoke filters (generally filamentous, fibrous, web, or extruded). The filter material can be, for example, cotton or a natural or synthetic filament tow of plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene, or cellulose acetate filament tow. The filter material may be a thermoplastic or spinnable polymer such as, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyactide. The filter material may be, for example, web materials such as natural or synthetic staple fibers, raw cotton, (generally crepe) paper and synthetic non-woven fabrics, as well as extruded materials (eg starch, synthetic foam). Preferably, the filter material comprises cellulose acetate filament tow.

The fibers (eg, fiber tow, eg, cellulose acetate tow) may be plasticized.
In other words, the filter material may optionally contain a plasticizer. The formation of plasticized tow is well known in the art. The plasticizer (which plasticizes the fibers) can be, for example, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate (TEGDA) or polyethylene glycol (PEG). The fiber may be a plasticized cellulose acetate tow fiber. The fiber may be, for example, a cellulose acetate tow plasticized with triacetin.

The filter material may optionally include a binder material. The filter material is optional,
It may include a water-soluble binder material. Examples of water-soluble materials include polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl ether, starch, polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol; water-soluble binders and plasticizers such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate (TEGDA), or polyethylene glycol (PEG). And water-soluble polymer materials such as particulate water-soluble hot melt binders. The inclusion of the water soluble binder material can further enhance the ability of the filter to deteriorate easily and quickly, for example under environmental conditions.

The filter material may contain additives. The additive may be a particulate additive. Particley additives are used in smoke filters such as, for example, activated charcoal, zeolites, ion exchange resins (eg, weakly basic anion exchange resins), sepiolite, silica gel, alumina, molecular sieves, carbonaceous polymer resins, and diatomaceous soil. It can be any particulate additive suitable for use. The fine particle additive may be a mixture of two or more materials. The additive may be a pigment such as a pearl luster pigment or a thermochromic pigment.

Additives may include smoke modifiers (eg, flavors). It can be any smoke modifier (eg, flavor) known or suitable for use in smoking articles such as cigarettes, such as menthol, spearmint, clove oil and the like.
Flavors can be any flavoring agent known for use in smoke filters. For example, the flavoring agent can be menthol, spearmint, peppermint, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, lemon, chocolate, peach, strawberry, vanilla and the like. Smoke modifiers (flavors) can be applied to filter materials in liquid form. The smoke modifier (flavor) may be liquefied prior to application to the filter material, for example by heating above the melting point, for example by mixing with a liquid carrier. The smoke modifier (flavor) may be applied to the filter material, for example, just before entering the die and before the filter material enters the die. The smoke modifier (flavor) can be mixed with the plasticizer and applied together with the plasticizer, for example, by spraying a mixture of the smoke modifier (flavor) and the plasticizer onto the filter material. A preferred smoke modifier (flavor) is menthol. For example, the additive may be sepiolite granules to which the menthol flavor has been applied.

The filter material may include a fully enclosed (eg, embedded) pocket in which the additive is embedded. The additive may be a particulate additive such as activated carbon (see above), which may be, for example, a particulate additive substantially separated from the filter material and completely encapsulated in the filter material. Wrapped within the filter material as individual pockets or pods of particles. In another example, the fully encapsulated (eg, embedded) pocket of the additive may be one or more destructible capsules or one or more destructible microcapsules. Capsules or microcapsules can include a variety of media, eg,
It can be, for example, a flavor (such as the flavors described above) and / or a smoke modifier such as a liquid, solid, or other material to aid in the filtration of smoke. The use of capsules or microcapsules is well known in the art.

If an additive pocket (eg, flavor capsule) is present, the channel is preferably semi-cylindrical, and the additive pocket (eg, flavor capsule) is a rod of filter material adjacent to the semi-cylindrical channel. It is provided in.

Flavors may be provided within and / or on threads. "Flavor thread" smoking article filters are well known in the art. Such filters typically incorporate internally longitudinally aligned thread or tape elements that carry smoke modifiers such as flavors. These were originally U.S. Pat. Nos. 428167
Proposed in specification No. 1, cotton sewing thread was the preferred element here. This document also discloses, for example, a method of coloring yarn with different colors exhibiting different flavors. The thread may be provided completely encapsulated within a rod of filter material adjacent to the semi-cylindrical channel.

Flavors may be provided within and / or on the extruded element. "Tube filters" Smoking article filters are well known in the art. Such a filter incorporates one or more continuous extrusion elements extending in the longitudinal direction of the rod. These filters were proposed in International Publication No. 2011/058319. The extruded element can be a hollow or solid cross section. The extruded element may be provided completely encapsulated within a rod of filter material adjacent to the semi-cylindrical channel. The flavor may be provided in the extruded element and / or on the extruded element in liquid form, for example, as a liquid sprayed on the outer surface of the continuous extruded element.

If a thread and / or extrusion element is present, the channel is preferably semi-cylindrical in shape and the thread and / or extrusion element is preferably provided on a rod of filter material adjacent to the semi-cylindrical channel.

The outer circumference of the mouthpiece or filter is 10.0 mm to 50 mm, for example 14.0 mm.
~ 35 mm, for example 16-30 mm, for example 18.0 mm ~ 28 mm, for example 22 mm ~
It may be 26 mm, for example, about 25 mm. Preferably, the mouthpiece or filter has a circumference of 15 mm to 22 mm. The one or more channels present in the mouthpiece or filter of the present invention can have a diameter of, for example, 0.5 mm to 10 mm, such as 1 mm to 8 mm, such as 1 mm to 4 mm, such as 4 mm to 8 mm, for example 3 mm to 6 mm. ..

The length of the mouthpiece or filter is 4.0 mm to 50 mm, for example 5.0 mm to 4
0 mm, for example 10-35 mm, for example 18.0 mm to 30 mm, for example 22 mm to 28
It may be mm, for example, about 25 mm. Preferably, the mouthpiece or filter is
It can have a length of 15 mm to 30 mm.

In the mouthpiece or filter according to aspects of the invention, the smoke filter material may be overlapped with a wrapper or plug wrap, such as a paper wrapper, such as an air permeable paper wrapper. Particulate additives such as those described above can be applied to wrappers or plug wraps that wrap the filter material, for example as described in UK Pat. No. 2,261,152. Alternatively, the wrapper and / or plug wrap is derived from a plant of the genus Cannabis, such as Cannabis sativa, such as Cannabis sativa sativa, cannabis sativa indica, or cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof. May be. Such wrappers are well known in the art and are described, for example, in International Publication No. 2017/064437.

Any mouthpiece or filter or mouthpiece or filter smoking article according to the present invention may not need to be ventilated or may be well known in the art such as pre-drilled or air permeable wrappers (plug wraps). ) And / or may be ventilated by laser perforation and tip overlap of the wrapper (plug wrap). Similarly, breathable full tip overlaps may be breathable in nature or have ventilation holes, and in ventilation products where both filter plug wraps and tip overlaps are present, through the overlap. Ventilation is usually consistent with ventilation through the plug wrap. Vents through the filter plug wrap and / or tip overlap at the same time can be created by laser perforation during the manufacture of the mouthpiece or filter or mouthpiece or filter smoking article.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a plurality of mouthpieces or filters as described herein, as described above and / or end-to-end integrally joined in a mirror image relationship. Rod is provided.

It will be understood that smokers can customize their joints. For example, if a smoker wants to regulate or adjust the amount of filtration, a mouthpiece with a conventional filter segment can be used or the length of the mouthpiece can be changed. If the smoker wants to add flavors / capsules / additives etc., a mouthpiece or filter according to the invention containing flavors / capsules / additives can be used (see also FIG. 3 as described above). .. It will also be appreciated that mouthpieces or filters according to the invention can be used with conventional flavor / capsule / additive segments to regulate smoking sensations.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a mouthpiece or filter of the invention for use in a smoking article containing one or more smokeable materials other than tobacco. Non-tobacco smokeable materials can be prepared from, for example, Cannabis sativa plants, such as Cannabis sativa sativa, Cannabis sativa indica or Cannabis sativa ruderalis, or mixtures thereof. Additional or alternative, smokeable materials other than tobacco may include oregano and / or hemp.

A further aspect of the invention provides the use of a mouthpiece or filter of the invention for filtering smoke from a smoking article containing one or more smokeable materials other than tobacco. Smoking materials other than tobacco include, for example, Cannabis sativa, such as Cannabis sativa.
It can be prepared from plants of the genus Cannabis such as Sativa, Cannabis sativa indica or Cannabis sativa ruderalis or mixtures thereof. Additional or alternative, smokeable materials other than tobacco may include oregano and / or hemp.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a smoking article comprising a smoking article mouthpiece or filter of the first or second aspect of the invention joined to a wrapped rod containing a smokeable material other than tobacco. Will be done. Smoking materials other than tobacco include, for example, Cannabis sativa,
It can be prepared from plants of the genus Cannabis such as Cannabis sativa sativa, cannabis sativa indica or cannabis sativa ruderalis or mixtures thereof. Additional or alternative, smokeable materials other than tobacco may include oregano and / or hemp.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the following examples and the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a mouthpiece or filter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a mouthpiece or filter according to another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a mouthpiece or filter according to another embodiment of the invention. It is a figure which shows the mouthpiece or the filter by another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a smoking article filter 1 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.5 mm, which includes an annular rod 2 extending in the longitudinal direction of the filter material. The filter material contains cellulose acetate filament tow. The annular rod 2 of the filter material defines a longitudinally extending cylindrical channel 3 extending along the entire length of the filter.

The smoking article filter 1 can be manufactured by pulling a continuous bundle of cellulose acetate filament tow, optionally already triacetin applied, via a fixed die having an outer diameter comparable to the desired outer diameter of the filter. The fixed die includes a protruding inner rod (or mandrel) that penetrates the die having a cross-sectional profile comparable to the desired cross section of the channel 3. Upon exiting the die, a filter 1 comprising an annular rod 2 of filter material and having a channel 3 having a cross-sectional profile equivalent to that of the inner rod is formed.
When the filament tow is pulled through the die, the filament toe passes around the inner rod. Heating steam may be applied to the filament tow while it is in the die. The heated steam may be applied through a duct in the die. The heated steam may be for curing the plasticizer applied to the filament tow (if any), allowing the filter 1 to maintain the shape of the die after it has left the die.

FIG. 2 shows a smoking article filter 101 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.5 mm, including an annular rod 102 extending in the longitudinal direction of the filter material. The filter material contains cellulose acetate filament tow. The annular rod 102 of the smoking filter material comprises a channel 103 extending longitudinally in a semi-circular (D-shaped) cross section extending along the entire length of the filter. The flavor capsule 104 is an annular rod 10 approximately in the middle along the entire length of the rod.
It is provided in the filter material forming 2. The smoking article filter 101 may be manufactured using the same method used to manufacture the smoking article filter 1. Insertion of the flavor capsule 104 into the annular rod 102 of the filter material can be performed by a method well known in the art.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the smoking article filter 101 of FIG. 2 (shown in planes 105-105 shown in FIG. 2) showing a D-shaped cross section of the channel 103 and the capsule 104 in the filter material.

FIG. 4 shows a smoking article filter 201 having a length of 27 mm and a circumference of 24.5 mm, including a rod 202 extending in the longitudinal direction of the filter material. The filter material contains cellulose acetate filament tow. The rod 202 defines three longitudinally extending cylindrical channels 203 arranged in a triangular pattern extending over the entire length of the filter. The smoking article filter 201 may be manufactured by the same manufacturing method used to manufacture the smoking article filter 1 of FIG. 1, and the three mandrels are used to manufacture the three channels 203.

Claims (28)

Mouthpiece or filter,
It comprises a rod made of a longitudinally extending filter material, comprising at least one longitudinally extending channel extending along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter.
Mouthpiece or filter. A mouthpiece or filter with a tubular rod that extends longitudinally and is made of filter material.
A mouthpiece or filter in which the inner surface of the tubular rod made of filter material defines at least one channel extending along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter. The mouthpiece or filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel has a uniform cross section along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter. The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the channel extending over the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter is spiral or substantially spiral. The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the channel extending over the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter is semi-cylindrical. The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filter material comprises cellulose acetate filament tow. The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the filter material comprises a thermoplastic or spinnable polymer such as, for example, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyactide. The filter material is, for example, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate (T).
Claims 1-7, comprising a plasticizer, such as EGDA) or polyethylene glycol (PEG).
The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of the above. The mouthpiece or filter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the filter material comprises a pigment and / or a flavorant. 9. The filter material comprises a plurality of pigments and / or a plurality of flavorants.
Mouthpiece or filter described in. The mouthpiece or filter of claim 8, wherein the flavorant is provided in a flavor capsule. The channel extending along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter is semi-cylindrical, and the flavor capsule is provided with the rod made of filter material adjacent to the semi-cylindrical channel. Item 9. The mouthpiece or filter according to item 9. The mouthpiece or filter of claim 8, wherein the flavrant is provided in and / or on a thread or extrusion element that longitudinally penetrates the rod made of filter material. The channel extending along the entire length of the mouthpiece or filter is semi-cylindrical and the thread or extrusion element is provided on the rod made of filter material adjacent to the semi-cylindrical channel. , The mouthpiece or filter according to claim 11. The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the filter material contains carbon, for example activated carbon. The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a wrapper or plug wrap. 15. The wrapper or plug wrap is derived from a plant of the genus Cannabis, eg, Cannabis sativa such as Cannabis sativa sativa, cannabis sativa indica or cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof, according to claim 14. Mouthpiece or filter. The mouthpiece or filter of claim 14 or 15, which is provided with vents in the wrapper and / or plug wrap. A plurality of mouthpieces or filters according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the mouthpieces or filters are integrally joined end to end in a mirror image relationship. rod. Claim 1 for use with smoking articles containing one or more smokeable materials other than tobacco.
The mouthpiece or filter according to any one of 16 to 16. Non-tobacco smokeable materials are prepared from Cannabis sativa plants such as Cannabis sativa sativa, cannabis sativa indica or cannabis sativa ruderalis, or mixtures thereof, for use. The mouthpiece or filter of claim 18. The mouthpiece or filter according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the smokeable material other than tobacco comprises oregano and / or hemp. Claim 1 for filtering smoke from a smoking article containing one or more smokeable materials other than cigarettes.
Use of the mouthpiece or filter according to any one of 16 to 16. The smokeable material other than tobacco is prepared from a plant of the genus Cannabis, for example Cannabis sativa such as Cannabis sativa sativa, cannabis sativa indica or cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof, claim 21. Use as described in. The use according to claim 21 or 22, wherein the smokeable material other than tobacco comprises oregano and / or hemp. The smoking article comprising the mouthpiece or filter of any one of claims 1-16, which is joined to a wrapped rod comprising a smokeable material other than tobacco. The smokeable material other than tobacco is prepared from a plant of the genus Cannabis, for example Cannabis sativa such as Cannabis sativa sativa, cannabis sativa indica or cannabis sativa ruderalis, or a mixture thereof, claim 24. Smoking goods listed in. The smoking article according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the smokeable material other than tobacco comprises oregano and / or hemp.

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