GB2229078A

GB2229078A - Flavouring cigarettes

Info

Publication number: GB2229078A
Application number: GB8905855A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Kenneth Stanbridge
Original assignee: Rothmans International Tobacco Ltd
Current assignee: Rothmans International Services Ltd
Priority date: 1989-03-14
Filing date: 1989-03-14
Publication date: 1990-09-19
Also published as: GB8905855D0

Abstract

A process for making a cigarette fitter which includes applying a flavour or additive on one or more of the faces of the wrapping material which contacts the filter material. The filter can have an inner fibrous core 1 wrapped with an impervious film 2 and an outer fibre tow 3 with a paper wrapper 4. The flavour or additive is applied to the inner surface 5 of outer wrapper 4 or to the inner surface 7 or the outer surface 6 of the inner wrap 2. <IMAGE>

Description

PROCESS FOR MAKING CIGARETTE FILTERS This invention relates to a process for making cigarette filters which can carry a flavour or additive.

The invention can be applied to cigarette filters which merely have an outer wrapping, for example the plugwrap, or filters of the dual density type in which there is an inner wrapped core surrounded by a further layer of-filtermaterial which is in turn surrounded by an outer wrapper.

According to the present invention a process for making a cigarette filter includes applying a flavour or additive onto one or more of the faces of the wrapping material which contacts the filter material.

Thus, the taste of the flavour or additive is drawn into the filter material when the cigarette is smoked and is thus transferred to the smoker.

The flavour or additive can be applied to the contact surface in various ways, for example, it can be printed or sprayed or an adhesive can be provided on the contact surface to which powder or granules carrying the flavour are applied. With this latter arrangement the adhesive can be printed or sprayed onto the contact surface.

If desired two or more flavours or additives can be applied to the contact surface.

The filter can be formed with an inner wrapped core and an outer wrapping, the flavour or additive being applied to any one or more of the surfaces of the inner or outer wrapper which contact the filter material.

With this arrangement the filter can be of the dual density type.

The invention also includes a filter rod made by the method set forth above.

The invention can be performed in many ways and some embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a dual density filter; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through a dual density filter in which the inner core is closed at one end.

As shown in Figure 1 a dual density filter is constructed using an inner core 1 of cellulose acetate fibre tow (or some other suitable filtration fibre material) wrapped with a film of impervious material 2, for example cellulose acetate film, polypropylene or polyethylene. The film 2 is sealed and the wrapped core 1 is surrounded by a ring of filtration fibre tow 3. The completed co-axial filter rod may then be wrapped with paper 4 (for example plugwrap) or may be steam-cured to maintain non-wrapped integrity The core rod 1 may also be wrapped with a conventional paper (plugwrap material) instead of the impersJíous wrap.

According to the present invention a flavour or additive is printed onto one of the wrapping surfaces. Thus the additive may be printed onto the inner surface 5 of the outer wrap 1 and/or outer surface 6 of the inner wrap 2 and/or the inner surface 7 of the inner wrap 2.

The additive may be printed in a continuous line over the whole width of the wrap so that it extends along the length of the wrap material or may be printed in discrete strips of various lengths. Again, the additive may be printed in a thinner line which does not extend completely around the circumference of the wrap material.

In an alternative arrangement the flavours or additives may be sprayed onto the required contact surfaces and-, in any case, the application technique may be either a conventional roller type printing device or a pulsed or continuous spray.

The position of the printer or spray applicator is preferably between the wrapper bobbin and the entrance of the filter making machine garniture. Thus, this process can be incorporated during the production of the completed filter, that is, on-line.

The flavour or additives may be in the form of liquids, solid-liquid suspensions, foam, powders or granules. In the latter two cases powders or granules are held in place by spraying or printing adhesive onto the contact surface prior to the application of the powders or granules which thus adhere to them.

More than one additive can be applied by using more than one technique or a similar technique during the passage of the wrapper from bobbin to garniture.

Figure 2 shows an alternative construction in which the same reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts to Figure 1. In this arrangement however the inner wrapper is crimped as indicated by reference numeral 8 at one end to form a seal or barrier to the smoke flow. Holes 9 are provided in the inner wrap.

The flavour or additives are again printed or sprayed onto any combination of surfaces 5, 6 or 7 in the manner described with regard to Figure 1.

In another alternative construction (not shown) the crimping 8 does not completely close the end of the inner wrap 2 and the holes 9 may or may not be included.

Suitable flavours or additives are for example menthol, fruit-type flavours, or spice type flavours.

Claims

1. A process for making a cigarette filter which includes applying a flavour or additive on one or more of the faces of the wrapping material which contacts the filter material

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the flavour or additive is printed onto said contact surface.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the flavour or additive is sprayed onto said contact surface.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which an adhesive is printed on the contact surface to which powder or granules are applied.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4 in which the adhesive is painted or sprayed onto the contact surface.

6. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 5 in which two or more flavours or additives are applied to the contact surface.

7. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 - 6 in which said filter is formed with an inner wrapped core and an outer wrapping and said flavour or additive being applied to any one or more of the surfaces of the inner or outer wrapper which contact the filter material.

8. A process as claimed in claim 7 in which the filter is of the dual density type 90 A filter rod made by the method set forth in any one of the preceding claims.

10 A process for making a cigarette filter substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

fl, A filter rod substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.