FILTER TIP

Abstract

The present application provides a filter tip including a filter element material and a surface layer. The filter element material includes a non-woven wire mesh layer and a paper-pulp layer. The non-woven wire mesh layer includes a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of mesh holes, wherein the first fibers are combined with each other, and each mesh hole is located between the first fibers. The paper pulp layer includes a plurality of plant fibers, a portion of the plant fibers are located on one side of the non-woven wire mesh layer, and a portion of the plant fibers pass through the mesh holes and entangle with the first fibers. The surface layer is wrapped around the periphery of the filter element material.

Claims

1. A filter tip, comprising: a filter element material comprising: a non-woven wire mesh layer comprising a plurality of first fibers and a plurality of mesh holes, wherein the first fibers are combined with each other, and each mesh hole is located between the first fibers; and a paper pulp layer comprising a plurality of plant fibers, wherein a portion of the plant fibers are located on one side of the non-woven wire mesh layer, and a portion of the plant fibers pass through the mesh holes and entangle with the first fibers; and a surface layer wrapped around the periphery of the filter element material.

2. The filter tip according to claim 1, wherein the first fibers comprise a plurality of polypropylene fibers.

3. The filter tip according to claim 2, wherein the percentage by weight of the polypropylene fibers in the filter element material is less than 45%.

4. The filter tip according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of softened particles uniformly distributed on the surface of the filter element material.

5. The filter tip according to claim 4, wherein the percentage by weight of the softened particles in the filter element material is 1.0% to 15.0%.

6. The filter tip according to claim 1, wherein the first fibers comprise a plurality of wood fibers.

7. The filter tip according to claim 1, further comprising a functional carrier provided inside the filter tip.

8. The filter tip according to claim 1, further comprising a scented crystal ball provided inside the filter tip.

9. The filter tip according to claim 1 having a hardness of greater than or equal to 70%.

10. The filter tip according to claim 1 having an inhalation resistance of 120 mmWG to 800 mmWG, and the filter tip has a length of 60 mm to 160 mm and a diameter of 16 mm to 25 mm.

11. The filter tip according to claim 1, wherein the filter element material has a liquid absorptive capacity of 230%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing that a filter tip is applied to a smoking product according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of a filter tip according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing that a non-woven wire mesh layer and a paper pulp layer have been not yet solidified according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a partial structure of a filter tip according to one embodiment of the present application.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged diagram of a circled area 5 in FIG. 4.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment where a functional carrier of a filter tip in the present application is a fragrance carrying thread.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged diagram of a circled area 7 in FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment where a filter tip in the present application comprises a scented crystal ball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] It should be noted that prior to the present application being described in detail in various embodiments, in the following explanation, the drawings of the present application are only for illustrative purposes and may not be drawn to scale, and not all the details are necessarily all represented in the drawings.

[0025] The directional or similar terms as used herein, such as front, back, left, right, top, bottom, inside, outside, side, mainly refer to the direction of the accompanying drawings, which are only used to assist in explaining and understanding the various embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit thereto.

[0026] The use of quantifiers such as a or an for components and members recorded in the present application is only for convenience and to provide the ordinary meaning within the scope of the present application; and in the present application, it should be interpreted as including one or at least one, and a singular form also includes plural forms, unless otherwise specified.

[0027] The terms such as combination, in combination, or assembly or similar terms as used herein mainly include patterns of members that can be separated without damaging them after being connected, or making the members inseparable after being connected, etc., which can be selected by those having common knowledge in the art based on the material or assembly requirements of the members to be connected.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, which is a schematic diagram of applying the filter tip to smoking products in one embodiment of the present application. The filter tip F of the present application is suitable for filtering the smoking product C, thereby reducing the tar entering the mouth and the suspended particles generated during combustion when the smoking product C is used. The smoking product C is a product that contains an aerosol-producing substance or an aerosol forming matrix and produces aerosols after combustion, such as cigarettes, heated cigarettes, or cigars. In addition, the smoking product C can also contain solid materials based on tobacco raw materials, such as reconstituted tobaccos, pipe tobaccos, and recombinant tobaccos. Smoking substances can contain volatile compounds.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5, FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of a filter tip according to one embodiment of the present application; FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing that a non-woven wire mesh layer and a paper pulp layer have been not yet solidified according to one embodiment of the present application; FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a partial structure of a filter tip according to one embodiment of the present application; and FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged diagram of a circled area 5 in FIG. 4. The filter tip F of the present application comprises a filter element material 10 and a surface layer 20. The filter element material 10 comprises a non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and a paper-pulp layer 12. The non-woven wire mesh layer 11 comprises a plurality of first fibers 111 and a plurality of mesh holes 112, wherein the first fibers 111 are combined with each other, and each mesh hole 112 is located between the first fibers 111. The paper pulp layer 12 comprises a plurality of plant fibers 121, a portion of the plant fibers 121 are located on one side of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11, and a portion of the plant fibers 121 pass through the mesh holes 112 and entangle with the first fibers 111. The surface layer 20 is wrapped around the periphery of the filter element material 10.

[0030] In this way, the plant fibers 121 passing through the paper pulp layer 12 penetrate through the mesh holes 112 and entangle with the first fibers 111, ensuring that the first fibers 111 and the plant fibers 121 are firmly consolidated. In addition, an appropriate hardness can be also provided to ensure that the filter element material 10 composed of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and the paper pulp layer 12 can have an appropriate hardness after being rolled into the filter tip F.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the filter element material 10 is a main body that provides a filtering effect. In some embodiments, the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 is a non-woven layer which is a fabric-like structural layer not woven with threads. In these embodiments, the first fibers 111 may, but are not limited to, be oriented or randomly arranged to form a mesh structure and mesh holes 112. In some embodiments, the first fibers 111 of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 can be reinforced and bonded through physical, mechanical, thermal bonding, or chemical methods, but not limited thereto.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the paper pulp layer 12 is of a layered structure formed by obtaining plant fibers 121 through defibration and pulping of plants, and then subjecting the plant fibers to size mixing and screen forming. It should be noted that due to the pulping process of the plant fibers 121, when the plant fibers 121 made into the paper pulp layer 12, the length and direction of the plant fibers 121 are different.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, in some embodiments, the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and the paper pulp layer 12 are reinforced and bonded through a spunlace nonwoven method (also known as water weaving or water needle methods) to form the filter element material 10. In these embodiments, referring to FIG. 3, the paper pulp layer 12 overlaps with the non-woven wire mesh layer 11, and is then sprayed onto the paper pulp layer 12 through a high-pressure fine water column W, so that a part of the plant fibers 121 in the paper pulp layer 12 pass through the mesh holes 112 of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and entangle with the first fibers 111 of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 (as shown in FIG. 4), thereby bonding the paper pulp layer 12 to the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and forming the filter element material 10.

[0034] In this way, due to the fact that at least a part of the filter element material 10 is composed of the paper pulp layer 12, the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 can stably support the paper pulp layer 12, ensuring that the filter element material 10 composed of the paper pulp layer 12 and the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 has a stable structural configuration, and the paper pulp layer 12 can improve the biodegradation rate and reduce the hazard of the filter tip F to the environment. Furthermore, due to the fact that the filter element material 10 is composed of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and the paper pulp layer 12, the hardness of the filter tip F can be adjusted through the ratio of the ingredients and the addition amount of the filter element material 10, so that the filter tip F has a proper hardness to ensure that consumers' use requirements are met and the rolling of cigarettes is successfully completed. In some embodiments, the hardness of the filter tip F is 70% (under the conditions that the filter tip F has a length of 60 mm to 160 mm and a diameter of 16 mm to 25 mm). Here, the hardness of the filter tip F is the maintenance degree of the diameter of the filter tip F when the filter tip F is pressed by a certain level of force applied radially along the filter tip F, and its numerical calculation method is as follows: Hardness of filter tip F (%)=[(D0D1)/D0]100. Where, D0 is the initial diameter of the filter tip F; D1 is the diameter of the filter tip F after being pressed by a specific weight. Generally, D1 is the diameter of the filter tip F after being pressed by a weight of 300 grams.

[0035] In some embodiments, the mass per unit area of the filter element material 10 is 3015 g/m.sup.2. In these embodiments, the mass per unit area can be measured using methods specified in ISO standard 9073-1 or the National Standard CNS5610 (Part 1) of the People's Republic of China. In some embodiments, the thickness of the filter element material 10 is 0.1 mm. In these embodiments, the thickness of the filter element material 10 can be measured using methods specified in the National Standard GB/T 24218.2-2009 of the People's Republic of China or the National Standard CNS5610 (Part 2) of the People's Republic of China.

[0036] In some embodiments, the structural configuration of the filter element material 10 of the filter tip F results in Tensile strength CD dry of 5 N; Tensile strength MD dry of 10 N; Breaking elongation CD dry of 200%; and a Breaking elongation MD dry of 150% for the filter element material 10. In these embodiments, the Tensile strength CD dry, Tensile strength MD dry, Breaking elongation CD dry and Breaking elongation MD dry all can be measured using the methods specified in the National Standard GB/T 24218.3-2010 of the People's Republic of China or the National Standard CNS5610 (Part 4) of the People's Republic of China. In this way, the filter element material 10 is prevented from breaking during the rolling process, reducing manufacturing difficulty.

[0037] In some embodiments, the structural configuration of the filter element material 10 of the filter tip F results in a liquid absorptive capacity of 230% for the filter element material 10 of the filter tip F. In these embodiments, the liquid absorptive capacity of the filter element material 10 can be measured using the methods specified in the National Standard GB/T 24218.6-2010 of the People's Republic of China. In this way, it is ensured that the filter tip F can fully absorb the water vapor, other harmful substances, and impurities generated after the combustion of smoking product C during use, improving the user experience when the users smoke the smoking product C.

[0038] In some embodiments, the structural configuration of the filter element material 10 of the filter tip F results in an inhalation resistance (pressure drop) of 120 mmWG to 800 mmWG (as measured when the filter tip F has a length of 60 mm to 160 mm and a diameter of 16 mm to 25 mm), providing users with a better user experience. The inhalation resistance refers to a static pressure difference between the two ends of the filter tip F when the volumetric flow rate is traversed by the air flow at a normal condition of 17.5 mm/s at the discharge end. In these embodiments, the inhalation resistance can be measured using the method specified in the ISO standard 6565:2015.

[0039] In some embodiments, the hardness of the filter tip F can also be controlled by changing the mass per unit area of the surface layer 20. In some embodiments, the mass per unit area of the surface layer 20 is 20 g/m.sup.2 to 150 g/m.sup.2.

[0040] In some embodiments, the moisture of the filter element material 10 is 16%. In these embodiments, the moisture of the filter element material 10 can be measured using the methods specified in the National Standard GB/T 462-2003 of the People's Republic of China.

[0041] The first fibers 111 of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 may contain the same or different fibers. In some embodiments, the first fibers 111 may be either polypropylene fibers or wood fibers, or a combination of the polypropylene fibers and the wood fibers.

[0042] In some embodiments where the first fibers 111 of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 are a combination of polypropylene fibers and wood fibers, the weight percentage of polypropylene fibers in the filter element material 10 is less than 45%. That is to say, in these embodiments, the polypropylene fibers only account for at most 45% by weight percentage of the filter element material 10, and the remaining part is composed of wood fibers and paper pulp layer 12, thereby ensuring the overall biodegradation rate of the filter tip F and improving environmental friendliness.

[0043] In some embodiments, the first fibers 111 of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 are all wood fibers. Therefore, the entire filter tip F is composed of the wood fibers of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and plant fibers 121 of the paper pulp layer 12. The plant fibers 121 of the paper pulp layer 12 can also pass through the mesh holes 112 and entangle with the first fibers 111 of the wood fibers. Thus, in the structural configuration where the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and the paper pulp layer 12 are entangled with each other, it is possible to ensure that the filter element material 10 has a stable structural form, provide the filter tip F with suitable hardness, and provide better biodegradation rate and environmental friendliness.

[0044] In some embodiments, the filter tip F is cylindrical as a whole. Therefore, in the production process of the filter tip F, after the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 and paper pulp layer 12 of the filter element material 10 are solidified, it is needed to be rolled into a cylindrical shape. In some embodiments where the first fibers 111 of the non-woven wire mesh layer 11 comprise polypropylene fibers, in order to ensure that the filter element material 10 can be successfully rolled into a cylindrical shape and meet the required roundness, reference is made to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 5 is a partial enlarged diagram of a circled area 5 in FIG. 4. The filter tip F further comprises a plurality of softened particles 30 which are located on the surface of the filter element material 10 to ensure that the filter tip F has a specific hardness for cigarette rolling after the filter element material 10 is rolled. In addition, the softening of the filter element material 10 can further improve the suction effect and more effectively adsorb impurities.

[0045] In some embodiments where the filter tip F comprises the softened particles 30, the weight percentage of the softened particles 30 in the filter element material 10 is 1.0-15.0%, ensuring that the filter element material 10 can be successfully rolled and formed while maintaining the required hardness. In some embodiments, the softened particles 30 are glycerol triacetate, but are not limited thereto. In these embodiments, the softened particles 30 are uniformly distributed in the filter element material 10 by spraying.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment where a functional carrier of a filter tip in the present application is a fragrance carrying thread; and FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged diagram of a circled area 7 in FIG. 4. In some embodiments, the filter tip F further comprises a functional carrier 40 uniformly distributed on the surface of the filter element material 10. In these embodiments, the functional carrier 40 is located on the surface of the filter element material 10 and exists inside the filter tip F after being rolled into the filter tip F. In some embodiments, the number of the functional carrier 40 is not limited to singular or plural, and the functional carrier 40 may be, but is not limited to, activated carbon, diatomaceous earth, fragrance carrying particles or fragrance carrying threads, thereby providing the filter tip F with additional functions.

[0047] Among them, in some embodiments where the functional carrier 40 is a fragrance carrying thread, the number of the functional carriers 40 is singular (as shown in FIG. 6). In these embodiments, the functional carrier 40 in the form of fragrance carrying thread is of a strip shape and is inserted into the filter element material 10 along the axial direction of the filter tip F. In some embodiments where the functional carrier 40 is activated carbon, diatomaceous earth, or fragrance carrying particles, the number of the functional carrier 40 is plural (as shown in FIG. 7). In these embodiments, the functional carrier 40 is uniformly distributed on the surface of the filter element material 10, that is, inside the filter tip F.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 8, which is a schematic diagram of one embodiment where a filter tip in the present application comprises a scented crystal ball. In some embodiments, the filter tip F further comprises a scented crystal ball 50 which is disposed within the filter element material 10 of the filter tip F. In these embodiments, the scented crystal ball 50 is located inside the filter tip F. In this way, through the scented crystal ball 50, the users can taste different fragrances when using the filter tip F. In some embodiments where the filter tip F comprises a 10 scented crystal ball 50, the number of the scented crystal ball 50 is one or two, but is not limited thereto.