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    • 专利摘要:
    method of making smoking article, smoking article, smoking article nozzle, and using substantially transparent casing The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a smoking article (10), comprising providing a nozzle (14) and an aerosol generating substrate (12) in axial alignment with the nozzle (14). the mouthpiece (14) includes one or more segments (16) and a substantially transparent housing (18) circumscribing at least a portion of the one or more segments (16). a sheet of paper material is provided and comprises a window in the paper material. the shrinkage ratio of the substantially transparent wrapper (18) to the shrinkage of the paper material at the time of manufacture of the smoking article is less than 3.5 when subjected to percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours. the sheet of paper material is wrapped around at least a portion of the transparent casing (18) so that an underlying nozzle segment can be seen through the window and the substantially transparent casing (18).
    公开号:BR112015012369B1
    申请号:R112015012369-4
    申请日:2013-12-03
    公开日:2021-08-03
    发明作者:Alexandre Camus
    申请人:Philip Morris Products S.A.；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    [0001] The present invention relates to a smoking article having a substantially transparent wrapper and a paper wrapper, as well as a method for manufacturing such smoking articles. The present invention also relates to the use of such wrappers in smoking articles.
    [0002] Filter cigarettes typically comprise a cylindrical thin-filled tobacco rod surrounded by a paper wrapper and a cylindrical filter axially aligned in boundary relationship, end-to-end with the wrapped tobacco rod. The cylindrical filter typically comprises filter material circumscribed by a paper plug casing. Conventionally, the wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are joined by a band of tipping paper, normally formed of an opaque paper material, which circumscribes the entire length of the filter and a portion adjacent to the wrapped tobacco rod.
    [0003] Several smoking articles in which an aerosol generating substrate, such as tobacco, is heated rather than burnt have also been proposed in the art. In heated smoking articles, aerosol is generated by heating an aerosol generating substrate. Heated smoking articles include, for example, smoking articles in which an aerosol is generated by means of electrical heating or by transferring heat from a fuel element or heat source to an aerosol generating substrate. During smoking, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol generating substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and entrained in air drawn through the smoking article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol that is swallowed by the consumer. Also known are smoking articles in which a nicotine-containing aerosol is generated from a tobacco material, tobacco extract or other source of nicotine, without combustion, and in some cases by heating, for example, by reaction. chemistry.
    [0004] It has previously been proposed to provide smoking articles that contain an at least partially transparent wrapper so that the consumer can observe at least a portion of the smoking article through the wrapper. For example, smoking articles have already been supplied with a tipping paper formed from a transparent polymeric material. However, a clear polymeric tip paper provides a different feel on the surface as compared to traditional tip paper wrappers, which tends not to please consumers.
    [0005] As an alternative, it has also been proposed to provide smoking articles that contain opaque tip paper with a cut-out window, so that the consumer could observe an underlying portion of the smoking article through the cut-out window. Where a plug wrap is provided between the tip paper and the underlying filter, it was necessary to use a plug wrap formed from a transparent material so that the user could see the underlying portion of the smoking article through the window and through the transparent plug casing. However, the present inventors have discovered that the combination of a traditional tipping paper wrapper and a clear polymeric plug wrap can lead to undesirable wrinkling of the tipping paper after manufacturing the smoking articles.
    [0006] It would therefore be desirable to provide a smoking article which contains a substantially transparent wrapper and a paper wrapper, so that wrinkling of the paper wrapper after manufacture of the smoking articles is reduced or avoided.
    [0007] Consequently, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing for a smoking article, the method being characterized in that it comprises the provision of a nozzle and an aerosol generating substrate in axial alignment with the nozzle. The mouthpiece includes one or more segments and a substantially transparent housing circumscribing at least a portion of the one or more segments. A sheet of paper material is provided and comprises a window in the paper material. The ratio of shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper to shrinkage of the paper material at the time of manufacture of the smoking article is less than about 3.5 when subjected to 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours. The sheet of paper material surrounds at least a portion of the substantially transparent casing so that an underlying nozzle segment can be seen through the window and the substantially transparent casing.
    [0008] In some embodiments, the sheet of paper material is wrapped around a portion of the aerosol generating substrate and affixing the nozzle to the aerosol generating substrate so as to form the entire smoking article, or part thereof.
    [0009] The shrinkage ratio is preferably less than about 3, more preferably less than about 2.5, more preferably even less than about 2, more preferably still about 1.5, more preferably even less than about 1. In some modalities, the shrinkage ratio is about 1.
    [00010] The present invention also encompasses smoking articles manufactured by means of the above method. Such smoking articles comprise a mouthpiece which contains one or more segments and a substantially transparent casing around at least a portion of the one or more segments. The smoking article also includes an aerosol generating substrate in axial alignment with the nozzle and a paper wrapping which circumscribes at least a portion of the nozzle and a portion of the aerosol generating substrate to affix the nozzle to the aerosol generating substrate. The smoking article also comprises a window in the paper wrapper so that a segment of the underlying mouthpiece can be seen through the window and the substantially transparent wrapper. The ratio of shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper to shrinkage of the paper wrapper at the time of manufacture of the smoking article is less than about 3.5 when subjected to 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours.
    [00011] The shrinkage ratio is preferably less than about 3, more preferably less than about 2.5, more preferably even less than about 2, more preferably still about 1.5, more preferably even less than about 1. In some modalities, the shrinkage ratio is about 1.
    [00012] The following description of the invention will be made in relation to the smoking article itself, although the characteristics described herein can be applied equally to the method of manufacturing the smoking articles described above.
    [00013] The term "substantially transparent" is used in this document to describe a material that allows passage of at least a sufficient proportion of incident light so that it is possible to see through the material. In the present invention, the substantially transparent casing allows sufficient light to pass through so that an underlying nozzle segment is visible through the casing.
    [00014] The substantially transparent casing can be completely transparent. Alternatively, the substantially transparent casing may have a lower level of transparency while still transmitting enough light so that the underlying nozzle segment is visible through the substantially transparent casing. In some cases, the substantially transparent casing may be tinted or colored.
    [00015] The term "at the time of manufacture of the smoking article" is used in this document to describe the stage at which the components of the smoking article are assembled to form the smoking article. In many cases, this would be the step where the sheet of paper material is wrapped around at least a portion of the mouthpiece that is circumscribed by the substantially transparent wrapping.
    [00016] The term "shrinkage" is used in this document to describe the amount by which material shrinks when exposed to 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for a period of 3 hours. In some cases, shrinkage can be observed visually, particularly when the relative shrinkage between the clear polymeric plug wrap and a tip paper wrap causes visible wrinkling of the tip paper, as described above. Consequently, one way to initially assess whether a smoking article was manufactured in accordance with the present invention is to observe whether the article exhibits visible wrinkling of the tip paper. If there is no visible wrinkling, and the smoking article includes a paper wrapper that circumscribes at least a portion of a substantially transparent wrapper, this may indicate that the smoking article was manufactured in accordance with the present invention.
    [00017] In some embodiments, shrinkage can result in undesirable wrinkling, which may not be visually noticed. However, in cases like this, wrinkling can also be detected by other means. For example, wrinkling can be detected by a consumer when placing the tip paper against the lips. To accurately determine the shrinkage value, the material must therefore be measured before and after exposure to the above environmental conditions. In particular, shrinkage is determined by measuring the largest dimension, a, of the material before exposure, at 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius, for a period of 3 hours, and then measuring the same dimension. , b, after exposure to 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for a period of 3 hours. Measurements are performed using Shrink Test 1, which is described in more detail below. Material shrinkage can then be calculated according to Equation 1 below:

    [00018] The present inventors have recognized that it is possible to reduce or eliminate wrinkling of the paper wrapper by minimizing the relative shrinkage between the paper wrapper and the substantially transparent underlying wrapper, which are typically joined by an adhesive during manufacture. of the smoking article. Smoking articles in accordance with the present invention therefore advantageously allow the use of substantially transparent wrappers with overlying wrappers formed from conventional paper materials, while ensuring that the paper material does not shrink when the article smoker ages, for example, if it is subjected to high temperatures and low humidity during article storage.
    [00019] To minimize the relative shrinkage between the substantially transparent wrapper and the paper wrapper, when conventional paper materials are used to form the paper wrapper (eg, traditional tip paper), the substantially transparent wrapper preferably exhibits shrinkage of less than 0.85 percent. More preferably, the substantially transparent shell exhibits shrinkage of less than about 0.5 percent. Even more preferably, the substantially transparent shell exhibits shrinkage of less than about 0.2 percent. In one embodiment, the substantially transparent casing exhibits shrinkage of between 0.15 percent and 0.35 percent. In one embodiment, the substantially transparent casing exhibits about 0.2 percent shrinkage.
    [00020] The thickness of the substantially transparent casing is preferably at least about 25 micrometers. More preferably, the thickness of the substantially transparent shell is between about 25 micrometers and about 75 micrometers. The basis weight of the substantially transparent wrap is preferably at least about 40 grams per square meter (gsm). More preferably, the basis weight of the substantially transparent shell is between approximately 40 gsm and approximately 80 gsm.
    [00021] The substantially transparent casing may be formed from a material that inherently exhibits a low shrinkage value as required to provide the shrinkage rate of the present invention. Alternatively, the substantially transparent casing may be formed from a material which normally exhibits an undesirably high amount of shrinkage but which has undergone a pretreatment process. For example, a material with a normally high shrinkage value may be subjected to a pre-shrinkage process prior to incorporation of the material into the smoking article. A suitable pre-shrink process may include exposing the material to the dry conditions described above (15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours). An alternative pre-treatment process may include applying a coating to at least one surface of a material with typically high shrinkage value. For example, a material with a normally high shrinkage value can be coated on at least one surface with a moisture barrier coating to reduce material shrinkage when exposed to dry conditions such as 15 percent relative humidity to 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours. Preferably, the moisture barrier coating is applied to both surfaces of the material. Moisture barrier coating can be applied directly to one or more surfaces of the material before incorporating the material into a smoking article. Alternatively, the moisture barrier coating can be applied to another component of the smoking article so that the moisture barrier coating is brought into contact with the substantially transparent material when the smoking article is assembled. For example, a moisture barrier coating could be applied to the inner surface of a sheet of tip paper so that the moisture barrier coating is brought into contact with the substantially transparent wrapping when the sheet of tip material is wrapped. around the substantially transparent wrapper to form the paper wrapper.
    [00022] A suitable material to form the moisture barrier coating is nitrocellulose lacquer.
    [00023] The term "moisture barrier coating" is used in this document to describe a coating that is substantially impermeable to water. Suitable moisture barrier coatings can be formed from materials that exhibit a degree of hydrophobicity, such as the nitrocellulose lacquer described above. A measure of the hydrophobicity of a material is the contact angle of a water droplet with the surface of the material. The contact angle is measured between a tangent to the surface of the water droplet at the point where it contacts the material and the surface of the material located below the water droplet. That is, the contact angle extends through the water droplet rather than through the surrounding gas, as will be described and illustrated below.
    [00024] Consequently, in such embodiments where the substantially transparent casing is formed from a material comprising a moisture barrier coating, the contact angle of a water droplet with the moisture barrier coating is preferably at least about 60 degrees, more preferably at least about 70 degrees, even more preferably at least about 80 degrees, and even more preferably at least about 85 degrees. In some embodiments, the contact angle is less than 125 degrees, more preferably less than 110 degrees. Preferably, the contact angle is around 90 degrees. In a preferred embodiment, the contact angle is between 70 degrees and 110 degrees. For comparison purposes, the contact angle of cellulosic film is typically less than 30 degrees.
    [00025] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a smoking article comprising a mouthpiece with one or more segments and a substantially transparent casing that circumscribes at least a portion of this one or more segments. An aerosol generating substrate is provided in axial alignment with the nozzle and a paper wrapper circumscribes at least a portion of the nozzle and a portion of the aerosol generating substrate to affix the nozzle to the aerosol generating substrate. A first moisture barrier coating is provided between the substantially transparent wrapper and the one or more segments, and a second moisture barrier coating is provided between the paper wrapper and the substantially transparent wrapper. The substantially transparent wrapper can be a film, such as cellulosic film, or any of the films described herein. The contact angle of a water droplet with one or more moisture barrier coatings is preferably at least about 80 degrees, more preferably at least about 85 degrees. In some modalities the contact angle is less than 150 degrees. Preferably, the contact angle is around 90 degrees. In some embodiments, one or more moisture barrier coatings are made from a nitrocellulose lacquer.
    [00026] In any of the aspects or embodiments of this invention described above, the substantially transparent casing is preferably formed from a polymeric film, which can be formed from a single layer of polymeric material or a laminate composed of two or more layers. Preferably, the polymeric film comprises a cellulose-based film, such as cellulose diacetate, or biaxially oriented polypropylene, both of which can be used in forming a substantially transparent shell. The inventors have found that these materials provide favorable dimensional stability, which minimizes shrinkage. Alternatively, where the substantially transparent film comprises a moisture barrier coating, the polymeric film may comprise a cellulosic film which has a moisture barrier coating on at least one surface thereof, preferably on both surfaces. Moisture barrier coating can be formed from nitrocellulose lacquer.
    [00027] The substantially transparent casing can be dissolvable. That is, the substantially transparent casing may be able to dissolve in a solution with a water solvent so that it no longer retains its original structure. In those embodiments where the substantially transparent wrapper is formed from a polymeric film, this can be accomplished through the use of one or more water-soluble materials to form the polymeric film. The film can be made entirely from one or more water-soluble polymers, or it can additionally include other polymers or inert components, such as inert inorganic fillers, which may or may not be dissolvable.
    [00028] In addition to or as an alternative to being dissolvable, the substantially transparent wrapper may be biodegradable. Preferably, where the substantially transparent wrapper is a polymeric film, the film is fully biodegradable as defined in the Aqueous Aerobic Biodegradation Test (Sturm Test), outlined in European standard EN13432. Preferred biodegradable polymers include starch, polyvinyl alcohol and combinations thereof.
    [00029] The smoking article nozzle in accordance with the present invention may comprise a filter that includes one or more segments of filtering material. For example, the nozzle may comprise a single segment of filter material, or the nozzle may comprise a multi-segment filter that includes two or more segments of filter material. Where two or more filter segments are provided, the filter segments can share the same construction and materials. Preferably, however, the filter segments are of different construction and/or contain different filtering materials relative to one another.
    [00030] In embodiments where the nozzle comprises two or more segments of filtering material, at least two segments of filtering material can be spaced apart so as to form a cavity between them. The cavity can be at least partially filled with some flavoring material.
    [00031] In any of the embodiments in which the nozzle comprises one or more segments of filter material, at least one of the filter segments may include a flavoring material. This can be in addition to any flavoring material supplied in a cavity when present.
    [00032] In some embodiments, the flavoring material is particulate flavoring material. Particulate flavoring materials include particles of an adsorbent or cellulosic material impregnated with liquid flavoring. In some preferred embodiments, the particulate flavoring material may comprise plant leaf particles as described in EP-A-1,958,523. For example, flavoring material can include tobacco leaves, green tea, mint, mint, bay leaf, eucalyptus, basil, sage, vervain and tarragon. In addition, portions of mint plants can also be used. The term "mint" refers to plants belonging to the genus Mentha. The plant material may alternatively come in seed, root, stem and/or flower form, such as typically used in seasonings.
    [00033] In some embodiments, the flavoring material is provided in a capsule that is adapted to release at least a portion of a fluid when the capsule is subjected to external force, such as squeezing, by the consumer.
    [00034] The mouthpiece may also include a particulate material that does not comprise a flavoring, such as beads or granules of a cellulosic material or an adsorbent. This can occur in addition to, or as an alternative to, the flavoring materials described above. Suitable adsorbents include activated carbon, carbon beads, active aluminum, zeolites, sepiolites, molecular sieves and silica gel.
    [00035] Where the nozzle includes one or more segments of filtering material, the filtering material is preferably a plug of fibrous filtering material, such as cellulose acetate fiber or paper. A filter plasticizer can be applied to the fiber filter material in a conventional manner by being sprayed onto the separated fibers, preferably prior to applying any particulate material to the filter material. The nozzle may include a variety of different types of filter segments or combinations of filter segments, including those described above, as well as other types of filter segments that would be known to a person skilled in the art, such as segments including restrictors and segments. which are used to adjust the resistance to buoyancy (Resistance to Draw, RTD).
    [00036] Where the filter comprises a single segment, the substantially transparent casing may be a plug casing around the filtering material. Where the filter comprises two or more segments, one or any segment may each be individually enclosed in a segment plug housing. The filter segments can then be subsequently attached to one another in a conventional manner, using a substantially transparent housing, which forms a combined plug housing. In this case, at least one of the plug housing segments is preferably transparent, in addition to the combined plug housing being transparent and, in some cases, these transparent housings are formed of the same material.
    [00037] A window may be provided in the paper wrapper so that an underlying nozzle segment can be seen through the window and the substantially transparent wrapper. This allows the consumer to see a portion of the mouthpiece underlying the substantially transparent casing. The paper wrapper can include a single window or multiple windows as desired. Where the paper wrapper includes multiple windows, the windows can be identical or can be of different sizes and shapes to accommodate different nozzle designs.
    [00038] Window can be provided by forming a cutout in the paper wrapper. Alternatively, the paper wrapper can be formed from a composite material having a band of transparent material that circumscribes at least a portion of the mouthpiece to form a window. As a further alternative, the paper wrapper may comprise two bands of paper material spaced along the length of the mouth so as to define a gap, the gap forming the window.
    [00039] In embodiments where the paper wrapper includes a window, the window may extend around the entire circumference of the mouthpiece. However, preferably, the window extends around only a portion of the circumference of the mouthpiece. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece preferably includes a high basis weight transparent plug wrap underlying the paper wrapper and extending around the window to prevent the mouthpiece from collapsing or tearing at the height of the window during use. For example, the basis weight of a substantially transparent plug shell can be at least 60 gsm, preferably around 80 gsm.
    [00040] In embodiments where the mouthpiece includes a cavity, the window preferably overlaps at least a portion of the cavity so that a consumer can observe the cavity through the window and the substantially transparent layer.
    [00041] Alternatively, or in addition to, the paper wrapper may include a window that overlaps at least a portion of a filter segment that includes a particulate material, so that a consumer can observe the particulate material through the window and the substantially transparent layer. Where the paper wrapper also includes a window, which overlaps the cavity within the confines of the mouthpiece, these may either be the same window extending over both portions of the mouthpiece, or they may be different windows.
    [00042] In smoking articles, according to the present invention, the nozzle may be borderline to the aerosol generating substrate, or the nozzle may not be borderline to the aerosol generating substrate. For example, the nozzle can be spaced from the aerosol generating substrate to define a gap or cavity therebetween. Alternatively, an intervening material can be positioned between the mouthpiece and the aerosol generating substrate.
    [00043] Smoking articles in accordance with the present invention may be filtered cigarettes or other smoking articles in which tobacco materials are burned to form smoke. For example, the aerosol generating substrate can comprise a tobacco rod and a mouthpiece can comprise a filter as described above. The paper wrapper may comprise tip paper.
    [00044] Alternatively, smoking articles in accordance with the present invention may be articles in which an aerosol generating substance, such as tobacco, is heated, rather than burned, to form an aerosol. In one type of heated smoking article, an aerosol generating substance is heated by one or more electrical heating elements to produce an aerosol. In another type of smoking heating article, an aerosol is produced by transferring heat from a chemical or fuel heat source to a physically separate aerosol generating substrate, which may be located within the boundaries of, around, or to downstream of the heat source. The present invention further encompasses smoking articles in which a nicotine-containing aerosol is generated from a tobacco material, tobacco extract or other nicotine source, without combustion, and in some cases, by heating, for example , through chemical reaction.
    [00045] The present invention also provides nozzles suitable for use in a smoking article as described above. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the present invention provides a mouthpiece for a smoking article, the mouthpiece comprising one or more segments and a substantially transparent casing that circumscribes at least a portion of the one or more segments. Shrinkage of the substantially transparent casing at the time of nozzle manufacture is less than 0.85 percent when subjected to 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours. Preferably, the substantially transparent wrapper exhibits shrinkage of less than about 0.5 percent. More preferably, the substantially transparent shell exhibits shrinkage of less than about 0.2 percent. The substantially transparent casing can exhibit shrinkage of around 0.2 percent.
    [00046] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a mouthpiece for a smoking article, the mouthpiece comprising one or more segments and a substantially transparent casing that circumscribes at least a portion of this one or more segments. The substantially transparent wrapper comprises a film and a moisture barrier coating applied directly or indirectly to at least one surface of a film. Preferably, a moisture barrier coating is applied to both surfaces of the film. The film can be a cellulose film. Preferably, the moisture barrier coating is applied directly to at least one surface of the film. However, in some embodiments, the moisture barrier can be applied indirectly to at least one surface of the film, by, for example, providing the moisture barrier coating on the outer surface of a sheet of material underlying the film. substantially transparent casing.
    [00047] The contact angle of a water droplet with the moisture barrier coating is preferably at least about 80 degrees, more preferably at least about 85 degrees. In some modalities the contact angle is less than 150 degrees. Preferably, the contact angle is around 90 degrees.
    [00048] In some embodiments, the moisture barrier coating is nitrocellulose lacquer.
    [00049] In any of the embodiments described above, the mouthpiece may also include any of the additional attributes described above with reference to mouthpieces that form a part of the smoking article in accordance with the invention.
    [00050] The present invention also extends to the use of a substantially transparent wrapper and a paper wrapper on a smoking article, wherein a window is provided in the paper wrapper so that an underlying segment of the mouthpiece can be seen through. the window and the substantially transparent wrapper, and where the shrinkage rate of the paper wrapper at the time of manufacture of the smoking article is less than about 3.5 when subjected to 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius per 3 hours. The shrinkage ratio is preferably less than about 3, more preferably less than about 2.5, more preferably still less than about 2, most preferably less than about 1.5, most preferably still , less than about 1. In some modes, the shrinkage ratio is about 1.
    [00051] Preferably, the shrinkage of the substantially transparent casing is less than about 0.85 percent, more preferably less than about 0.5 percent, and even more preferably less than about 0.2 percent. In one embodiment, the substantially transparent casing exhibits about 0.2 percent shrinkage.
    [00052] Preferably, the nominal difference between the shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper and the shrinkage of the paper wrapper is less than about 0.5 percent, and even more preferably less than about 0.1 percent. cent. For example, in one embodiment, the shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper can be about 0.6 percent and the paper wrapper shrinkage can be about 0.2 percent, which gives a nominal difference of 0.4 percent. cent.
    [00053] The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the attributes previously described with reference to the smoking article, such as the specific materials used to form a substantially transparent wrapper, are equally applicable to the use of a substantially transparent wrapper and a paper wrapper, such as as described above.
    [00054] The invention will now be further described in more detail, exclusively by way of example, with reference to the attached figures, in which:
    [00055] Figure 1 shows a smoking article in accordance with the present invention;
    [00056] Figure 2 shows the smoking article of Figure 1 with the mouthpiece unwrapped; and
    [00057] Figure 3 shows a diagram illustrating how to calculate the contact angle of a water droplet.
    [00058] The filter cigarette 10, shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a thin tobacco filler wrapped rod 12 which is attached at one of its ends to an axially aligned filter 14 comprising a single filter segment 16. The single filter segment 16 is formed from cellulose acetate fiber that has been wrapped with a substantially transparent wrap in the form of a substantially transparent plug wrap 18. The filter segment 16 incorporates particles of a cellulosic material (not shown) impregnated with a liquid flavoring, which is dispersed within the cellulose acetate fiber. The wrapped tobacco rod 12 and the filter 14 are joined by an outer wrapper 20 formed of standard tip paper, which circumscribes the entire length of the filter 14 and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod 12. The outer wrapper 20 is securely attached to the substantially transparent plug casing 18 at adhesive bonding points (not shown) spaced along the circumference of the filter 14.
    [00059] The outer casing 20 comprises a circular cutaway portion 22, having a diameter of about 5 mm, which is positioned about 5 mm from the rod end of the outer casing 20. The substantially transparent plug casing 18 is exposed through of the cut-out portion 22, in the outer shell 20, and an area of the filter that includes cellulosic granules is therefore visible through the cut-out portion 22.
    [00060] The substantially transparent plug housing 18 is formed from a cellulosic diacetate film, which exhibits shrinkage of about 0.2 percent when subjected to 15 percent humidity at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours. The low shrinkage minimizes the relative shrinkage between the substantially transparent plug shell 18 and the outer shell 20, which typically exhibits about 0.26 percent shrinkage under the same conditions. Accordingly, the outer wrapper 20 does not wrinkle when the cigarette 10 is subjected to dry conditions, such as during storage. Test Procedures Contact Angle Test
    [00061] As shown in Figure 3, the contact angle, theta (θ), can be calculated by measuring the droplet base (a) and the droplet height (h) to characterize the droplet shape. Using standard triangle geometry, the contact angle, theta (θ), can be calculated according to Equation 2 below:

    [00062] A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in providing adequate means to make correct measurements of the droplet base (a) and the droplet height (h). For example, a high resolution digital photograph can be taken of the droplet on the substrate and the droplet base (a) and droplet height (h) can be measured using appropriate computer software.
    [00063] The base of the droplet (a) and the height of the droplet (h) should be measured around 1 second after the droplet has been placed on the substrate. A suitable droplet volume is 4 microliters and a suitable droplet composition is demineralized water. Shrinkage Test 1
    [00064] Preferably, the test is performed on samples of material obtained from the production facility before their use in forming a smoking article nozzle.
    [00065] Ten sheets or strips of the material to be tested are measured along its longest dimension under normal atmospheric conditions (60 percent relative humidity at 22 degrees Celsius) and the extensions are recorded. A person skilled in the art will quickly understand that sample lengths can be measured using any suitable length measuring device, such as a ruler. Any sample size can be used, although large lengths will reduce experimental error. In a sort of compromise between reducing errors and providing a practical sample size, sheets or strips that have a length corresponding to A4 are appropriate for testing. The length of A4 is typically around 297 millimeters.
    [00066] The sample sheet or strips are then stored under dry conditions (15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius) for 3 hours. During exposure to dry conditions, samples are placed on a shelf that has a plurality of projections that support the samples in an elevated position over the main body of the shelf. Projections help to reduce the amount of shelf surface in contact with samples during exposure to dry conditions, thus ensuring more uniform exposure.
    [00067] After the 3-hour exposure to dry conditions, the samples are then measured again along the same dimension as it was measured before the exposure to dry conditions, and the new lengths are recorded. The shrinkage for each sample can then be calculated using Equation 1 above. The shrinkage value for the material under testing is taken as the numerical mean of the shrinkage values obtained for the ten samples.
    [00068] To actually determine the shrinkage of a particular material, Shrinkage Test 1 should be used. However, as discussed below, a second shrink test (Shrink Test 2) can be used to provide a general indication of the shrinkage levels of materials when they have already been formed in a nozzle. The results of Shrink Test 2 may vary depending on the construction of the nozzle segment underlying the materials at the time of measurement. Accordingly, Shrink Test 2 should only be used for general guidance purposes as to which material exhibits certain shrinkage properties. Shrinkage Test 2
    [00069] Tests shall be performed on sample nozzles that are substantially the same as those used at the time of manufacture. Preferably, the test is performed on samples obtained from the production facility prior to their use in forming a smoking article nozzle. However, where such samples are not available, samples may be obtained from an already manufactured smoking article. In this case, samples must be obtained before the nozzles are exposed to environmental conditions that could affect the test results, such as the dry conditions used in the test.
    [00070] Three nozzles, each comprising at least one segment and a substantially transparent casing, are used in the test. The test can be used to indicate the presence of shrinkage in the substantially transparent casing.
    [00071] Under normal atmospheric conditions (60 percent relative humidity at 22 degrees Celsius), the diameter of each nozzle is measured at three separate points along the length of the nozzle. The nozzle is marked (with a pen, for example) to provide a reference for each measurement point so that subsequent measurements can be made along the same diameter. A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in providing adequate means to make adequate diameter measurements. For example, a high resolution digital photograph can be taken of the end of each nozzle and the diameter can be measured using suitable computer software.
    [00072] The nozzle samples are then stored under dry conditions (15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius) for 3 hours. During exposure to dry conditions, samples are placed on a shelf that has a plurality of projections that support the sample in an elevated position over the main body of the shelf. Projections help to reduce the amount of shelf surface in contact with the sample during exposure to dry conditions, thus ensuring more uniform exposure.
    [00073] After 3 hours of exposure to dry conditions, the samples are then measured again along the same diameters along which they were previously measured, and the new casing diameters are recorded. The shrinkage of each casing for each sample can then be calculated using Equation 1 above, and the average shrinkage calculated to provide a shrinkage value for each casing material. Examples Example 1
    [00074] Four different clear films were tested using Shrink Test 1. The four films used as samples were: biaxially oriented polypropylene film, uncoated cellulose film, 1 nitrocellulose lacquer moisture barrier coating cellulose film. .2 grams per square meter (gsm) on one side, and cellulose diacetate film on the other. The biaxially oriented polypropylene film sample and the uncoated cellulose film were each approximately A4 in size. The nitrocellulose lacquer coated cellulose film and the cellulose diacetate film sample were narrower strips, each having a length equivalent to the A4 size. The tip paper samples were narrower strips that were each equivalent in length to A4 size. The test results are shown below:


    [00075] As can be seen from the table below, the biaxially oriented polypropylene film, the film coated on one side with nitrocellulose lacquer and the cellulose diacetate film all show a significantly lower level of shrinkage than the uncoated cellulose, which was previously used to form clear plug sheaths in smoking articles. The shrinkage of biaxially oriented polypropylene film and cellulose diacetate film is comparable to the shrinkage of standard tip paper. Providing a nitrocellulose lacquer on both sides of a cellulose film is expected to further reduce shrinkage compared to uncoated cellulose film. Example 2
    [00076] Based on the results of Example 1, a plurality of test nozzles were constructed using a single segment filter with a standard paper plug casing.
    [00077] A number of these test nozzles were wrapped with cellulose diacetate film (nozzle A), while another amount of these nozzles was wrapped with uncoated cellulose film (nozzle B). The remaining nozzles were left without any kind of wrapping (nozzle C).
    [00078] The shrinkage of the different nozzles was measured using the

    [00079] For the purpose of further general comparison, a number of cigarettes containing single segment filters with standard paper plug wrap, wrapped by standard tip paper (white appearance or cork appearance) were constructed. The shrinkage of the mouthpieces of these cigarettes was measured using Shrinkage Test 2 and the results are shown below:

    [00080] It is seen that the use of cellulose diacetate film as the plug wrap material in a nozzle, results in a shrinkage percentage similar to that of the nozzle containing conventional paper plug wrap wrapped with standard tip paper. On the one hand, it is evident that the use of cellulose film as the plug wrap material in a nozzle results in significantly higher shrinkage percentage than a nozzle containing standard paper plug wrap wrapped with standard tip paper. The inventors have recognized that such significant relative shrinkage can cause the tip paper to wrinkle when the nozzle is exposed to dry storage conditions.
    [00081] Based on the results of Example 2, a number of test smoke articles were constructed using a filter with a cellulose diacetate film plug wrap, circumscribed by the standard tip paper (A smoke articles). For comparison purposes, a number of test smoking articles were constructed using a filter with an uncoated cellulose film plug wrap and standard tip paper (smoking article B).
    [00082] The smoking articles A and B were left for 3 hours in 15 percent relative humidity at 42 degrees Celsius. After such exposure, wrinkling of the tip paper in smoking articles B was visually perceptible to the naked eye, whereas no wrinkling of the tip paper in smoking articles A was visually perceptible to the naked eye.
    [00083] Consequently, in order to avoid unwanted wrinkling when standard tip paper is used (shrinkage of 0.26 percent), the inventors have found that the transparent plug wrap should have a shrinkage of about 0.85 percent, or less. At these shrinkage values, the ratio of transparent plug wrap shrinkage to tip paper shrinkage is 3.27 (ie, 0.85 divided by 0.26). Consequently, allowing for minor variations in standard tip paper shrinkage, the ratio of the shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper to the shrinkage of the paper wrapper on smoking articles manufactured in accordance with the present invention should be less than approximately 3.5.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [0001]
    1. Method for manufacturing a smoking article (10), the method characterized by comprising the steps of: providing a mouthpiece (14) comprising one or more segments (16) and a substantially transparent casing (18) around, at least a portion of the one or more segments (16), the substantially transparent shell (18) being formed from a polymeric film; providing an aerosol generating substrate (12) in axial alignment with the nozzle (14); providing a sheet of paper material, comprising a window in the paper material, wherein the ratio of shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper (18) to shrinkage of the paper material, at the time of manufacture of the smoking article, is less than 3 .5, when subjected to a relative humidity of 15% at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours; and wrapping the sheet of paper material around at least a portion of the transparent casing (18) so that an underlying nozzle segment can be seen through the window and the substantially transparent casing (18).
    [0002]
    2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of wrapping the sheet of paper material around at least a portion of the transparent wrapper (18) includes wrapping the sheet of paper material around the around a portion of the aerosol generating substrate (12) to affix the nozzle (14) to the aerosol generating substrate (12).
    [0003]
    3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the shrinkage rate is less than 3.
    [0004]
    4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the step of providing a nozzle (14) includes providing a nozzle (14) with a transparent casing (18) with a shrinkage of less of 0.85 percent.
    [0005]
    5. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymeric film comprises at least one of biaxially oriented cellulose diacetate and polypropylene.
    [0006]
    6. Smoking article (10), characterized in that it comprises: a mouthpiece (14), comprising one or more segments (16) and a substantially transparent casing (18) around at least a portion of one or more segments ( 16), the substantially transparent casing (18) being formed from a polymeric film; an aerosol generating substrate (12) in axial alignment with the nozzle (14); a paper wrapper circumscribing at least a portion of the nozzle (14) and a portion of the aerosol generating substrate (12) for affixing the nozzle (14) to the aerosol generating substrate (12); and a window in the paper wrapper such that an underlying nozzle segment can be seen through the window and the substantially transparent wrapper (18); wherein the ratio of the shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper (18) to the shrinkage of the paper wrapper at the time of manufacture of the smoking article (10) is less than 3.5 when subjected to a relative humidity of 15 percent to 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours.
    [0007]
    7. Smoking article (10), according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the shrinkage rate is less than 3.
    [0008]
    8. Smoking article (10), according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the shrinkage of the substantially transparent envelope (18), at the time of manufacture of the smoking article (10), is less than 0.85 per cent.
    [0009]
    9. A smoking article (10) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the substantially transparent casing (18) comprises at least one between a cellulose diacetate film and a biaxially oriented polypropylene film .
    [0010]
    10. Use of a substantially transparent shell (18) formed from a polymeric film; and a paper wrapper in a smoking article (10), characterized by a substantially transparent wrapper (18) circumscribing at least a portion of one or more segments of a nozzle (14), wherein a window is provided in the paper wrapper. and wherein the paper wrapper circumscribes at least a portion of the substantially transparent wrap (18) so that an underlying segment of the nozzle can be seen through the window and the substantially transparent wrap (18), and wherein the rate of shrinkage of the substantially transparent wrapper (18) for the shrinkage of the paper wrapper, at the time of manufacture of the smoking article (10), is less than 3.5, when subjected to a relative humidity of 15 percent at 42 degrees Celsius for 3 hours.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    US10602770B2|2020-03-31|
    CN104837377A|2015-08-12|
    EP2928329A2|2015-10-14|
    JP6608699B2|2019-11-20|
    PH12015500679A1|2015-05-18|
    AU2013354201B2|2017-08-03|
    RU2015126793A3|2018-05-08|
    WO2014086802A3|2015-03-12|
    MX2015007117A|2015-10-12|
    JP2019050805A|2019-04-04|
    UA116785C2|2018-05-10|
    US20150296875A1|2015-10-22|
    WO2014086802A2|2014-06-12|
    MY181065A|2020-12-16|
    JP2015536154A|2015-12-21|
    BR112015012369A8|2019-10-01|
    JP6672424B2|2020-03-25|
    CN104837377B|2019-05-03|
    EP2928329B1|2020-08-19|
    TWI644623B|2018-12-21|
    RU2660794C2|2018-07-09|
    HK1211805A1|2016-06-03|
    SG11201502904UA|2015-05-28|
    AR093790A1|2015-06-24|
    KR102218161B1|2021-02-23|
    BR112015012369A2|2017-07-11|
    AU2013354201A1|2015-04-30|
    MX369775B|2019-11-21|
    KR20150091118A|2015-08-07|
    RU2015126793A|2017-01-12|
    TW201438606A|2014-10-16|
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    法律状态:
    2018-03-06| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2018-03-13| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2018-03-20| B06I| Publication of requirement cancelled [chapter 6.9 patent gazette]|Free format text: ANULADA A PUBLICACAO CODIGO 6.6.1 NA RPI NO 2462 DE 13/03/2018 POR TER SIDO INDEVIDA. |
    2019-10-15| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2021-05-25| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2021-08-03| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 03/12/2013, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    EP12195567.8|2012-12-04|
    EP12195567|2012-12-04|
    PCT/EP2013/075434|WO2014086802A2|2012-12-04|2013-12-03|Smoking article with transparent wrapper|
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