Abstract:
An apparatus for supplying a continuous web of crimped sheet material to a rod forming device comprises: - a winding unit (3) for unwinding the sheet material from a bobbin (21) on which the sheet material is provided, - a crimping unit (7) for crimping the sheet material, - a dispensing unit (8) for adding a particulate or liquid add-on material to the sheet material, and - a control unit (9) for controlling the various units of the apparatus in response to sensor signals received from the respective units. The dispensing unit (8) is arranged downstream of the crimping unit (7) when viewed in the direction of transport of the sheet material, and upstream of the rod forming device to which the crimped sheet material is supplied.
Abstract:
A filter segment (16) for use in a filter (14) of a smoking article (10, 20, 20, 40, 50) comprises a non-laminar substrate (20) loaded with at least one smoke-modifying agent. The non-laminar substrate (20) is located within the body of the filter segment (16) and is formed from filter plug wrap having an air permeability of at least about 3000 Coresta units.
Abstract:
One embodiment of the invention provides a method of preparing a filter for use in a smoking article. The method comprises machine-smoking tobacco through a first filter material and then storing the first filter material after machine-smoking in conjunction witha second filter material. The filter for use in a smoking article comprises the second filter material. It has been found that flavour volatiles from the smoked tobacco are retained in the first filter material during the machine-smoking, and then transferred to the second filter material during the storage.
Abstract:
Fibrous material suitable for incorporation into filter elements (6) of smoking articles such as cigarettes (2) are impregnated with additives and agents such as flavorants, flavorant-enhancers and/or free radical scavengers. The fibrous material is contacted with the additive dispersed in a high pressure gas or supercritical fluid (SCF) held at elevated pressures. The high pressure gas or SCF swells the fibrous matrix and enables the additive to be incorporated within the matrix. When pressure is reduced, the gas or SCF vaporizes and leaves the additive embedded in the fiber interstices. As a result, the additive is slowly released over a finite period of time. When incorporated into a cigarette filter, the additive is released at a desired rate from the interior of the fibrous filter into the cigarette smoke.
Abstract:
A method of preparing a rod for use in the preparation of a smoking article is described. The rod has a first end and a second end. The rod has located therein a solid support. The solid support extends in a linear fashion from the first end of said rod to the second end of said rod. At least a portion of said solid support is coated and/or impregnated with an additive. The rod is prepared using rod forming means, wherein said rod forming means comprises a channel ending in an open exit, wherein material may pass through at least part of the channel and leave via the open exit in the form of a rod. The rod is prepared by: (i) providing starting material for forming said rod; (ii) providing the solid support for location within said formed rod; (iii) providing an additive for coating and/or impregnating at least a portion of said solid support; (iv) allowing said starting material to travel through at least part of said channel of said rod forming means; (v) coating and/or impregnating at least a portion of said solid support with said additive within said channel; (vi) allowing said solid support coated and/or impregnated with said additive to travel through at least part of channel of said rod forming means. The method comprises: (a) contacting a section of said starting material with a section of said solid support; wherein the initial contact of said section of starting material with said section of said solid support occurs in said rod forming means; (b) allowing the contacted sections of starting material and solid support to travel through at least part of said channel of said rod forming means in the direction of said open exit; (c) allowing the remainder of the starting material and the remainder of the solid support to contact in the rod forming means; (d) allowing the contacted remainder of the starting material and the solid support to travel through at least part of said channel of said rod forming means; (e) forming said rod by said rod forming means, such that on forming said rod said solid support extends within said rod from the first end of said rod to the second end of said rod; and (f) allowing said formed rod to exit from said open exit.
Abstract:
A method of preparing a rod for use in the preparation of a smoking article is described. The rod has a first end and a second end. The rod has located therein a solid support. The solid support extends in a linear fashion from the first end of said rod to the second end of said rod. At least a portion of said solid support is coated and/or impregnated with an additive. The rod is prepared using rod forming means, wherein said rod forming means comprises a channel ending in an open exit, wherein material may pass through at least part of the channel and leave via the open exit in the form of a rod. The rod is prepared by: (i) providing starting material for forming said rod; (ii) providing the solid support for location within said formed rod; (iii) providing an additive for coating and/or impregnating at least a portion of said solid support; (iv) allowing said starting material to travel through at least part of said channel of said rod forming means; (v) coating and/or impregnating at least a portion of said solid support with said additive within said channel; (vi) allowing said solid support coated and/or impregnated with said additive to travel through at least part of channel of said rod forming means. The method comprises: (a) contacting a section of said starting material with a section of said solid support; wherein the initial contact of said section of starting material with said section of said solid support occurs in said rod forming means; (b) allowing the contacted sections of starting material and solid support to travel through at least part of said channel of said rod forming means in the direction of said open exit; (c) allowing the remainder of the starting material and the remainder of the solid support to contact in the rod forming means; (d) allowing the contacted remainder of the starting material and the solid support to travel through at least part of said channel of said rod forming means; (e) forming said rod by said rod forming means, such that on forming said rod said solid support extends within said rod from the first end of said rod to the second end of said rod; and (f) allowing said formed rod to exit from said open exit.
Abstract:
A feeding device (8, 8', 8", 8"') for feeding a continuous thread (9) into a continuous fibrous band, in a tobacco industry machine for manufacturing rod-like elements, wherein the fibrous band is formed to a form of a continuous rod (CR) comprising the continuous thread (9) surrounded by the continuous fibrous band, the feeding device (8, 8', 8", 8"') comprising: a thread supply unit (10) for feeding the continuous thread (9); a thread feeding unit (11) for feeding the continuous thread (9) into the continuous fibrous band wherein the continuous thread (9) is fed into the middle of the continuous fibrous band; wherein the feeding device (8, 8', 8", 8"') is configured such that the thread feeding unit (11) is located between a fibrous band preparation unit (4) and a garniture unit (15) for forming the continuous rod. The feeding device (8, 8', 8", 8"') further comprises at least one feeding wheel (7), having at least one circumferential groove (21) for guiding at least one continuous thread (9).
Abstract:
Smoking articles including filter elements formed from two or more fibrous inputs with different physical properties are provided. The two or more fibrous inputs are provided in the form of staple fibers, which are at least partially entangled with each other to form a mixed fiber sliver. The mixed fiber sliver includes a first plurality of cellulose acetate staple fibers blended with a second plurality of staple fibers comprising a polymeric material different from the first plurality of staple fibers, such as staple fibers of a degradable polymeric material. The entangled fibers of the mixed fiber sliver may be sufficiently separated from one another such that blooming operations typically required in filter element production may not be necessary prior to incorporating the mixed fiber sliver into a filter element. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method of producing a tobacco smoke filter or filter element comprising: • heat treating a continuously advancing longitudinally extending strand of material; • cooling the heat treated continuously advancing strand; and • forming a longitudinally extending outer layer of tobacco smoke filtering material around the continuously advancing strand, to form a continuously advancing rod comprising a longitudinally extending strand (1a) of material and a longitudinally extending outer layer (2a) of tobacco smoke filtering material engaged around the longitudinally extending strand (1a). An apparatus for carrying out the method, and products of the method, are also provided.