MOUTHPIECE LINING PAPER WITH THERMALLY EXPANDABLE PARTICLES

Abstract

The invention relates to a mouthpiece lining paper which can be provided with at least one elevation by the action of heat, the mouthpiece lining paper including thermally expandable particles which are present in the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper or a printing or lacquer layer, which printing or lacquer layer is present on the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A mouthpiece lining paper configured to provide at least one elevation by action of heat, comprising: thermally expandable particles in one of: a substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; a printing layer located on the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; and a lacquer layer located on the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper.

16. The mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 15, further comprising: at least one elevation formed by thermally expanded particles; wherein the at least one elevation is formed from the thermally expandable particles by heating the mouthpiece lining paper.

17. The mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 15, wherein the thermally expandable particles are present in the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper and the substrate is paper.

18. The mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 15, wherein the thermally expandable particles are present in the printing layer or the lacquer layer.

19. The mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 18, wherein the printing layer or the lacquer layer is only present in limited areas on the mouthpiece lining paper, the mouthpiece lining paper having at least one surface area in which thermally expandable particles are present and at least one further surface area in which there are no thermally expandable particles.

20. The mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 19, wherein: the at least one surface area in which there are thermally expandable particles is optically identical to the at least one further surface area in which there are no thermally expandable particles; and after exposure to heat the at least one surface area and the at least one further surface area become distinguishable due to expanded particles formed from the thermally expandable particles.

21. The mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 15, wherein the printing layer or the lacquer layer is a printing ink, a clear lacquer layer, or colored lacquer layer.

22. The mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 15, wherein a foil element is present above the at least one elevation.

23. A method for producing a mouthpiece lining paper having at least one elevation, comprising: expanding thermally expandable particles by one of: contacting the mouthpiece lining paper with a hot surface; and irradiating the mouthpiece lining paper with a laser beam; wherein the thermally expandable particles are in one of: a substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; a printing layer located on the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; and a lacquer layer located on the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; and wherein the thermally expandable particles in areas of the mouthpiece lining paper in contact with the hot surface or heated by the laser beam expand and form the at least one elevation.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein a continuous web of mouthpiece lining paper is moved along an embossing roller with a hot structured surface, further elevations of a structure of the embossing roller being transferred as the at least one elevation to the mouthpiece lining paper.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein: a continuous web of mouthpiece lining paper is moved through a hot stamping device, the hot stamping device attaching a foil element to the mouthpiece lining paper; and the thermally expandable particles of the mouthpiece lining paper present in an area of the foil element expand and form the at least one elevation.

26. An aerosol-generating consumer article comprising: a mouthpiece lining paper configured to provide at least one elevation by action of heat, the mouthpiece lining paper including thermally expandable particles in one of: a substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; a printing layer located on the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; and a lacquer layer located on the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper; wherein the mouthpiece lining paper is heated to form the at least one elevation on an outside of the aerosol-generating consumer article in a heated area.

27. The aerosol-generating consumer article according to claim 26, wherein the elevation is in a form of a symbol, a structure, or a code.

28. An apparatus for producing a mouthpiece lining paper according to claim 15, comprising: a first machine for printing or coating the mouthpiece lining paper; and a second machine for hot stamping the mouthpiece lining paper; wherein a band is transportable through the first machine and the second machine, the band being composed in a transverse direction of a plurality of mouthpiece lining papers, the plurality of mouthpiece lining papers including the mouthpiece lining paper, each of the plurality of mouthpiece lining papers being for one aerosol-generating consumer article.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0075] The invention is illustrated with the aid of drawings:

[0076] FIG. 1: illustrates the application of an exemplary mouthpiece lining paper according to the invention to a filter cigarette.

[0077] FIG. 2: illustrates the application of an exemplary mouthpiece lining paper according to the invention to a heat-not-burn consumer article.

[0078] FIG. 3: illustrates the application of an exemplary mouthpiece lining paper according to the invention to a filter cigarette.

[0079] FIG. 4: illustrates an exemplary mouthpiece lining paper according to the invention.

[0080] FIG. 5: illustrates the production of an elevation by means of a laser.

[0081] FIG. 6: illustrates another exemplary mouthpiece lining paper according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0082] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary structure of a filter cigarette which is equipped with a mouthpiece lining paper 1 according to the invention, which comprises a lacquer layer or printing 2. The substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 or the lacquer layer or printing 2 contains thermally expandable particles.

[0083] A conventional filter cigarette further comprises a cigarette paper 3, which envelops a rod 4 of aerosol-generating substrate, which in the case of a filter cigarette is usually referred to as a tobacco rod. A conventional filter cigarette further comprises a filter paper 5 which envelops the filter 6. The subject mouthpiece lining paper 1 can also be provided on cigarettes without a filter.

[0084] FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary structure of a heat-not-burn consumer article which is equipped with a mouthpiece lining paper 1 according to the invention, which comprises a lacquer layer or printing 2. The substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 or the lacquer layer or printing 2 contains thermally expandable particles.

[0085] A conventional heat-not-burn consumer article further comprises a rod 4 of aerosol-generating substrate, a hollow section 7, a cooling section 8 and a filter 6. These sections may or may not each include their own wrapping materials.

[0086] Since the rod 4 of the heat-not-burn consumer article is heated without burning the wrapping material, the mouthpiece lining paper 1 can extend over the entire length of the heat-not-burn consumer article. The mouthpiece lining paper 1 can be designed in multiple layers and, for example, have an internal aluminum layer, at least in the area of the rod 4. In contrast to what is shown, a mouthpiece lining paper 1 that only extends over a partial area of the heat-not-burn consumer article can also be attached to the heat-not-burn consumer article, in which case an additional wrapping material for the rod and optionally also the other components 6, 7, 8 may be present.

[0087] The heat-not-burn consumer article can be heated with an electronic device (heat-not-burn device), wherein the heat-not-burn consumer article with the rod 4 is introduced into the device first, so that the mouthpiece lining paper 1 and the imprint or lacquer layer 2 are exposed for the user's lips. As shown, there is no printing or lacquer layer 2 in that area in which the rod 4 is present, or in that area which is fed into the device.

[0088] In another known embodiment of a heat-not-burn consumer article, the heat-not-burn consumer article has a heat source in front of the rod 4, in particular in the form of carbon.

[0089] A print or lacquer layer 2 containing thermally expandable particles can be located in the area of the heat source or in the area of the rod 4, so that the raised structure is created when the consumer article is used, if the imprint or lacquer layer 2 is only present in limited areas or in a structured manner.

[0090] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the print or lacquer layer 2 extends only over a partial area of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 and, for example, is only located in the rear end of the aerosol-generating consumer article facing away from the rod 4.

[0091] The mouthpiece lining paper 1 can comprise perforations which can be present in the area that is not provided with a print or lacquer layer 2, or can run through the print or lacquer layer 2 and the base paper.

[0092] In another embodiment, the mouthpiece lining paper 1 can be provided with the printing or lacquer layer 2 over the entire surface, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0093] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the mouthpiece lining paper 1 can additionally comprise a foil element 9, whereby this can be applied over the printing or lacquer layer 2, or in an area which is not covered by the printing or lacquer layer 2.

[0094] The printing or lacquer layer 2 can be a clear lacquer layer or a colored lacquer layer or a color imprint of a non-film-forming printing ink.

[0095] In the case of a clear lacquer layer, this can be on white base paper or on color-printed or color-coated base paper. The clear lacquer layer can cover a larger area than the colored printing or colored coating.

[0096] In the case of a colored lacquer layer, the colored lacquer layer itself forms the colored coating or the colored area of the mouthpiece lining paper.

[0097] In FIG. 4, a strip of a single mouthpiece lining paper 1 is shown in a view from above, which comprises a base paper, a printing or lacquer layer 2, and three foil elements 9. The printing or lacquer layer 2 is illustrated by the dotted area.

[0098] Because the base paper of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 or the printing or lacquer layer 2 contains thermally expandable particles, a structure that is tactilely perceptible on the surface can be produced. In FIGS. 1 to 4, exemplary elevations 10 are shown, which can be produced within the scope of the present invention.

[0099] In the example in FIG. 1, the thermally expanding particles are contained, for example, only in the base paper or substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper 1, in particular enclosed therein. When a sub-area of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 is heated, the thermally expanding particles expand in this sub-area and an elevation 10 arises in the base paper or in the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper 1. These elevations 10 can be present in a region of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 which has no printing or lacquer layer 2. These elevations 10 can also be present in a region of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 which has an imprint or lacquer layer 2, the elevations 10 being formed under the imprint or lacquer layer 2.

[0100] In the example in FIG. 2, the thermally expanding particles are contained in the base paper or in the substrate of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 and in the printing or lacquer layer 2. These elevations 10 can be present in a region of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 which has no printing or lacquer layer 2. These elevations 10 can also be present in a region of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 which has an imprint or lacquer layer 2, the elevations 10 being under the imprint or lacquer layer 2 and in the imprint or lacquer layer 2. If the action of heat is applied over a small area, the expansion of the particles can be limited to the printing or lacquer layer 2, as is illustrated by the small elevation 10 on the underside of the consumer article.

[0101] In FIG. 2, a band of a foil element 9 is also illustrated, which was applied to the mouthpiece lining paper 1 by hot stamping. As a result of the action of heat during hot stamping, the particles underneath the band of the foil element 9 are expanded, so that an elevation 10 is present, which is registered with the band of the foil element 9.

[0102] In FIGS. 3 and 4 it is illustrated that the thermally expanding particles are contained, for example, only in the printing or lacquer layer 2, in particular are enclosed in the printing or lacquer layer 2. In this case, heating of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 causes the particles in the printing or lacquer layer 2 to expand, so that the substrate, in particular the base paper, has no elevations 10. The foil element 9 illustrated in FIG. 4 in the area of the substrate not provided with the printing or lacquer layer 2 thus does not produce any elevation 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elevations 10 are present in the printing or lacquer layer 2 and can be formed by the action of local heat with or without attachment of a foil element 9. As already mentioned, the foil element 9 can be present in the form of a band on the mouthpiece lining paper 1, or, as also illustrated in FIG. 4, as a locally delimited foil element 9, for example in the form of a point or logo.

[0103] FIGS. 3 and 4 also show elevations 10 in the printing or lacquer layer 2, which are present in punctiform fashion and are not covered with foil elements 9. The dots can be arranged corresponding to Braille characters. The dots or other shapes can also run as a regular pattern over the entire surface of the printing or lacquer layer 2.

[0104] A regular pattern of elevations 10 or Braille characters as elevations 10 can of course also be present in the substrate or base paper of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0105] As illustrated in FIG. 5, a raised structure or at least one elevation 10 can be formed in a continuous area on which thermally expandable particles are present by heating with a laser beam which is moved over this area. In the example in FIG. 5, the lettering ABC is written as a raised structure with the laser beam. The thermally expandable particles can be present in the substrate or the printing or lacquer layer 2. The example in FIG. 5 also shows that the mouthpiece lining paper 1 can be present without colored printing, with the thermally expandable particles being present in the base paper or a colorless printing or transparent lacquer layer 2. This colorless printing or transparent lacquer layer 2 can be present on the entire surface of the mouthpiece lining paper 1 or on one or more partial areas. Depending on the energy of the laser beam, it can also cause a color change in the mouthpiece lining paper 1, so that the structure either only stands out from the surrounding areas in a tactile manner or additionally in color.

[0106] Instead of a laser beam, the raised structure or the at least one elevation 10 could be formed by a hot stamp or by heating through the openings of a template.

[0107] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a printing or lacquer layer 2 containing thermally expandable particles can be present on the mouthpiece lining paper 1 only in limited areas. In the example in FIG. 6, two areas or structures are printed on or coated, each of which is shown as lettering ABC. By heating the mouthpiece lining paper 1 or the respective area, a raised structure or an elevation 10 can be produced in both areas or only one of the areas. As shown, it is preferred that the areas with thermally expandable particles do not differ in color from the surrounding surface. This can be done by means of transparent printing or lacquering or by using colored printing or lacquering which is in the background color or the color of the surrounding section. In the example in FIG. 6, the dotted area symbolizes printing which imitates cork. The printing or lacquer layer 2 in this area can thus be either transparent or in the color of the cork imitation printing.

[0108] The mouthpiece lining paper 1 in the sense of the outermost wrapping material of an aerosol-generating consumer article which is not burned during consumption can be attached to a heat-not-burn consumer article in such a way that it is present in the area of the rod 4. The mouthpiece lining paper 1 preferably has an area with printing or a lacquer layer 2 containing thermally expandable particles, which is surrounded or interspersed by an area without thermally expandable particles, this area with thermally expandable particles being heated by a heat-not-burn device during heating.

[0109] The examples are to be understood as purely explanatory. The mouthpiece lining paper 1 with elevations 10, which are formed by thermally expanded particles, can be present on any type of aerosol-generating consumer article, for example as wrapping material for cigars or cigarillos or as sheets of wrapping material for roll-your-own cigarettes.

[0110] The mouthpiece lining paper 1 is to be arranged on the aerosol-generating consumer article in such a way that the printing or lacquer layer 2 is located on the outside of the aerosol-generating consumer article. If the printing or lacquer layer 2 is only present in a partial area, this can be arranged facing away from the rod 4, or in the area of the rod 4 of a heat-not-burn consumer article.