Paper Forming a Cavity Between a Tobacco Rod and a Filter Segment

Abstract

The invention relates to a Heat-Not-Burn smoking construction with at least one tobacco segment, at least one cooling tube and a filter comprising an upstream hollow filter segment and a downstream filled filter segment. The filter segments are wrapped with at least one first combining wrapper. The cooling tube and the filter are surrounded by a second combining wrapper or tipping paper extending partially on the tobacco segment to attach the filter and cooling tube to the tobacco segment. The cooling tube is formed between the filter and the tobacco segment by the first combining wrapper, which surrounds the filter and forms a cavity between the tobacco segment and the filter to provide a cavity that extends a length beyond the upstream hollow filter segment. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing one or two heat-not-burn smoking constructions.

Claims

1. A Heat-Not-Burn smoking construction, wherein the smoking construction extends in a length direction and comprises a longitudinal axis, along which at least one tobacco segment comprising tobacco is provided, at least one cooling tube, and a filter comprising at least an upstream hollow filter segment and a downstream filled filter segment adjacent to the upstream hollow filter segment, wherein the filter segments are wrapped with at least one first combining wrapper, wherein the cooling tube and the filter are surrounded by a second combining wrapper extending partially on the tobacco segment to attach the filter and the cooling tube to the tobacco segment, wherein the cooling tube is formed between the filter and the tobacco segment by the first combining wrapper, which surrounds the filter and forms a cavity between the tobacco segment and the filter that extends along a certain length beyond the upstream hollow filter segment.

2. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein the cooling tube comprises a paper material.

3. The smoking construction according to claims 1, wherein the cooling tube extends along the longitudinal axis and has a length between about 15 mm and about 45 mm.

4. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein the first combining wrapper is thicker and/or has a higher basis weight than the second combining wrapper.

5. The smoking construction according to claims 1, wherein the cooling tube forms an empty cavity.

6. The smoking construction according to claims 1, wherein the length of the cooling tube is larger than or equal to a length of the filter.

7. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein the length of the cooling tube is larger or equal to a length of the tobacco segment.

8. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein ventilation holes are provided in the cooling tube.

9. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein the filled filter segment comprises acetate or paper tow.

10. (canceled)

11. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein the tobacco segment comprises reconstituted tobacco including strands of tobacco sheet and/or folded sheets comprising tobacco powder, and/or more than about wt. 5% of glycerin.

12. The smoking construction according to claims 1, wherein the cooling tube comprises a tubular reinforcement material.

13. The smoking construction according to claim 2, wherein the paper material has a weight higher than about 60 gsm.

14. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein the cooling tube is filled with a filler material.

15. The smoking construction according to claim 1, wherein the second combining wrapper overlaps the first combining wrapper along at least a part of the length of the first combining wrapper.

16. The smoking construction according to claim 8, wherein the ventilation holes are formed by lasering through the first and second combining wrapper.

17. A method for manufacturing a heat-not-burn smoking construction comprising the steps of: providing a tobacco segment and at least a first filter formed of at least two filter segments; wrapping the first filter with at least one first combining wrapper to obtain a first wrapped filter wherein a cooling tube is formed as a cavity surrounded by the first combining wrapper, wherein a length of the cooling tube is longer than a length of the first filter creating thereby a cavity at at least one side of the wrapped filter; and wrapping the first wrapped filter and at least a part of the tobacco segment with a second combining wrapper such that the cavity is situated between the filter and the tobacco segment.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising an additional step of wrapping the first and a second filter with the first combining wrapper to obtain a double length wrapped filter, wherein a double length tube is formed between the first and second filter and wherein the length of the double length tube is equal to or longer than a length of the first and second filter together to create a cooling tube between the first and second filter.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising an additional step of wrapping a double length filled filter segment and two hollow filter segments with a double length first combining wrapper to obtain a double length wrapped filter, wherein the double length first combining wrapper forms two cavities, which form cooling tubes, wherein at least one hollow filter segment is positioned between a cooling tube and the double length first filter.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising an additional step of cutting the double length wrapped filter to create a first and a second wrapped filter comprising a first cooling tube and a second cooling tube.

21. A method for manufacturing two heat-not-burn smoking constructions comprising the steps of: providing theft tobacco segment and the first and second wrapped filter according to claim 15; placing the tobacco segment between the first and second wrapped filter such that the cooling tube of each wrapped filter is positioned between the tobacco segment and a filter segment of each wrapped filter; wrapping each of the first and second wrapped filter and at least two parts of the tobacco segment with two separate second combining wrappers or wrapping the tobacco segment and the first and second wrapped filter with one common combining wrapper to create a double length smoking construction such that the cavity of each wrapped filter is created between each first and second filter and the tobacco segment; and cutting the double length smoking construction at a middle of the tobacco segment to create two smoking constructions.

Description

[0055] The figures show:

[0056] FIG. 1 Schematic view of the smoking construction and its components;

[0057] FIG. 2 Chart of the method for manufacturing a heat-not-burn smoking construction;

[0058] FIG. 3 Cross-sectional view of the double length filter with a double length cooling tubes;

[0059] FIG. 4 Cross-sectional view of the double length filter with a double length filled filter segment;

[0060] FIG. 5a Cross-sectional view of the double length smoking construction with a double length filled filter segment;

[0061] FIG. 5b Cross-sectional view of the double length smoking construction with a double length tobacco segment.

[0062] In FIG. 1 a smoking construction 1 with a tobacco segment 10, a cooling tube 20, an upstream hollow filter segment 30, a downstream filled filter segment 40, a first combining wrapper 50 and a second combining wrapper 60 is shown. Along a longitudinal axis 3, the tobacco segment 10, the cooling tube 20, the hollow filter segment 30 and the filled filter segment are arranged. Ideally, these components are arranged adjacent to each other, especially in said sequence and in particular one behind the other.

[0063] Preferably, the first combining wrapper 50 is arranged such that it surrounds the hollow filter segment 30 and the filled filter segment 40 such that a wrapped filter is formed. The wrapped first combining wrapper 50 forms a cavity 20a such that the cooling tube, is formed wherein the cooling tube is defined by the cavity 20a and the surrounding first combining wrapper 50.

[0064] The hollow filter segment 30 comprises a tubular part 31, wherein the tubular part is ideally arranged such that it is arranged adjacent to cooling tube 20 and in particular such that the tubular part 31 defines an extension of the cooling tube 20.

[0065] The second combining wrapper 60 may be arranged such that it at least partially, preferably completely overlaps the first combining wrapper 50. Moreover, the second combining wrapper 60 is preferably arranged such that it surrounds the wrapped filter and at least a part of the tobacco segment 10, wherein the second combining wrapper 60 preferably attaches the tobacco segment 10 and the wrapped filter. The cooling tube 20 in the form of the cavity 20a may be arranged between the tobacco segment 10 and the hollow filter segment 30 or the filled segment 40. The filled filter segment 40 is preferably arranged adjacent to the hollow filter segment 30 and in particular at a proximal end of the smoking construction 1, wherein the hollow filter segment 30 is ideally arranged between the cooling tube 20 and the filled filter segment 40.

[0066] All components and especially the tobacco segment 10, the cooling tube 20, the hollow filter segment 30 and the filled filter segment 40 are arranged concentrically around the longitudinal axis 3. Ideally, the first combining wrapper 50 circumferentially encloses the cooling tube 20, the hollow filter segment 30 and the filled filter segment 40 to form the wrapped filter. The second combining wrapper 60 may circumferentially encloses the wrapped filter and at least a part of the tobacco segment 10.

[0067] The first 50 and/or second combining wrapper 60 comprises a paper, carton, cardboard material and/or aluminium foil, acetate cellulose film which preferably has a weight higher than 60 gsm, preferably higher than 75 gsm, preferably higher than 90 gsm and/or a weight preferably lower than 200 gsm, preferably lower than 150 gsm, preferably lower than 125 gsm.

[0068] The filled filter segment 30 and/or the hollow filter segment 40 may comprise acetate and preferably cellulose acetate fibers. Ideally, the acetate of the filled filter segment 40 has a lower density than the acetate of the hollow filter segment 30.

[0069] The cavity 20a may be filled with a filler material such as fibers, which are preferably made of natural material e.g. cellulose fibers, plant fibers or the like. It may also be possible that the cavity 20a is filled with a heat absorbing material.

[0070] The tobacco segment 10 may comprise reconstituted tobacco, preferably random oriented strands of tobacco sheets, whole tobacco leafs and/or shredded tobacco. Ideally, the tobacco segment comprises tobacco powder and/or at least one, preferably more sheets, which comprise reconstituted tobacco and/or more than wt. 5% of glycerin, preferably more than wt. 8% of glycerin, preferably more than wt. 10% of glycerin.

[0071] Preferably a length of the tobacco segment 100, of the cooling tube 70, in particular in the form of the cavity 20a, of the hollow filter segment 91, of the filled filter segment 40, of the filter comprising one or both filter segments 90, of the wrapped filter 110 comprising the filter and the cooling tube 20, of the first combining wrapper 80, of the second combining wrapper 120 and of the smoking construction 130 extends in the length direction. The length of the filter 90 may define a combined length of the length of the hollow filter segment 91 and the length of the filled filter segment 40. Further, the length of the wrapped filter 110 and/or the length of the first combining wrapper 80 defines a combined length of the length of the hollow filter segment 91, the length of the filled filter segment 40 and the length of the cooling tube 70. The length of the cooling tube may be larger than the length of the cavity 20a, which is positioned in the cooling tube.

[0072] The length of the tobacco segment 100 may be larger than, smaller than or equal to the length of the cooling tube 70. Ideally, the length of the tobacco segment 100 is equal to the length of the cooling tube 70. The length of the tobacco segment 100 may be larger, smaller or equal to the length of the filter 90. Preferably, the length of the tobacco segment 100 is smaller than the length of the filter 90. The length of the tobacco segment 100 may be larger, smaller or equal to the length of the hollow 91 or filled filter segment 92. Ideally, the length of the tobacco segment 100 is larger than the length of the hollow 91 or filled filter segment 92. The length of the tobacco segment 100 may be larger than, smaller than or equal to the length wrapped filter 110 and/or the first combining wrapper 80. Ideally, the length of the tobacco segment 100 is smaller than the length wrapped filter 110 and/or the first combining wrapper 80.

[0073] The length of the cooling tube 70 and/or the cavity 20a may be larger than, smaller than or equal to the length of the filter 90. Ideally, the length of the cooling tube 70 and/or the cavity 20a is larger than the length of the filter 90. The length of the cooling tube 70 and/or the cavity 20a may be larger than, smaller than or equal to the length of the hollow 91 and/or filled filter segment 92. Ideally, the length of the cooling tube 70 and/or the cavity 20a is smaller than the length of the hollow 91 and/or filled filter segment 92. The length of the cooling tube 70 and/or the cavity 20a may also be smaller than the first 80 and/or the second combining wrapper 80 and especially smaller than the length of the second combining wrapper 120.

[0074] The length of the hollow filter segment 91 may be larger than, smaller than or equal to the length of the filled filter segment 92. Ideally, the length of the hollow filter segment 91 is smaller than the length of the filled filter segment 92. Further, the length of the smoking construction 130 may be larger than or equal to the length of the second combining wrapper 120, wherein the length of the first combining wrapper 80 may be smaller than or equal to the length of the second combining wrapper 120.

[0075] The length of the tobacco segment is preferably larger than 10 mm, preferably larger than 15 mm, preferably larger than 20 mm and/or smaller than 40 mm, preferably smaller than 30 mm, preferably smaller than 25 mm. The length of the cooling tube 70 may be larger than 15 mm, preferably larger than 25 mm, preferably larger than 32 mm and/or smaller than 45 mm, preferably smaller than 40 mm, preferably smaller than 37 mm. Ideally, the length of the cooling tube 70 is between 10 mm and 25 mm and especially larger than 20 mm, preferably larger than 10 mm. Ideally, the length of the filter 90 is larger than 8 mm, preferably larger than 10 mm, preferably larger than 12 mm and/or smaller than 22 mm, preferably smaller than 20 mm, preferably smaller than 17 mm.

[0076] Moreover, the length of the hollow filter segment 91 and/or the filled filter segment 92 is larger than 3 mm, preferably larger than 5 mm, preferably larger than 7 mm and/or smaller than 12 mm, preferably smaller than 10 mm, preferably smaller than 8 mm. Ideally, the length of the first combining wrapper 80 and/or of the wrapped filter 110 is larger than 25 mm, preferably larger than 30 mm, preferably larger than 35 mm and/or smaller than 50 mm, preferably smaller than 45 mm, preferably smaller than 40 mm. Preferably, the length of the second combining wrapper 120 and/or the of the smoking construction is larger than 30 mm, preferably larger than 35 mm, preferably larger than 40 mm and/or smaller than 60 mm, preferably smaller than 55 mm, preferably smaller than 50 mm. Ideally, the length of the smoking construction is larger than 35 mm, preferably larger than 45 mm, preferably larger than 50 mm and/or smaller than 70 mm, preferably smaller than 65 mm, preferably smaller than 60 mm.

[0077] The smoking construction preferably comprises ventilation holes 5, which are arranged at the cooling tube 70. Ideally, the ventilation holes 5 are arranged in line one behind the other and in particular this line is arranged circumferentially around the cooling tube 70. The line of ventilation holes 5 may also be arranged perpendicular to the length direction 2. The smoking construction may also comprise one or more e.g. two or three lines of ventilation holes 5, which may be arranged next to each other. Ideally, the ventilation holes 5 break through the first and/or the second combining wrapper in a radial direction and in particular in a direction perpendicular to the length direction 2.

[0078] FIG. 2 shows a chart illustrating the method 200 for manufacturing a heat-not-burn smoking construction 1. In a first step 201, at least one, preferably two tobacco segments 10 are provided, wherein the tobacco segments 10 may be formed as described above. In a further step 202, at least one first filter is formed, wherein the first filter ideally comprises at least two and preferably exactly two filter segments. Preferably, the first filter comprises the hollow filter segment 30 and the filled filter segment 40.

[0079] In a next step 203, the first filter is wrapped with a first combining wrapper to obtain a first wrapped filter, wherein the cooling tube may be formed as a cavity 20a that is surrounded by the first combining wrapper 50. Ideally, the length of the cooling tube 70 is longer than the length of the first filter 90 to create the cavity 20a at at least one side of the first wrapped filter. It is possible that the first combining wrapper 50, the cooling tube 20, the hollow filter segment 30 and/or the filled filter segment are arranged as described above and/or formed as described above. The first combining wrapper ideally has a specific weight of 60 gsm, preferably higher than 75 gsm, preferably higher than 90 gsm and/or a weight preferably lower than 200 gsm, preferably lower than 150 gsm, preferably lower than 125 gsm.

[0080] The step 203 may comprise an intermediate step 203a of wrapping the first and a second filter with a double length cooling tube to obtain a double length wrapped filter. The double length tube may be positioned between the first and second filter, wherein ideally the double length cooling tube is positioned between two hollow filter segments 30. Further, the length of the double length tube is preferably longer than a length of the first and second filter together. An optional further intermediate 203b step provides a cutting of the double length wrapped filter to create a first and a second wrapped filter. In this case, a second tobacco segment may be provided in a step 201b.

[0081] In an alternative step 302 a double length filled filter segment and at least two hollow filter segments 30 are provided and in a further alternative step 303 wrapped together with a double length first combining wrapper to obtain the double length wrapped filter. Ideally, at least one of the hollow filter segments is arranged adjacent to an end of the double length filled filter segment, in particular such the double length filled filter segment is positioned between the hollow filter segments 30. A length of the double length first combining wrapper may be longer than a combined length of the double length filled filter segment and the two hollow filter segments, such that double length first combining wrapper extends beyond the hollow filter segments 30 to form two cavities. The cavities may be surrounded by the double length first combining wrapper and/or form the cooling tubes 20. At least one of the two cooling tubes are arranged at, and especially adjacent to one of the hollow filter segments 30. At least one of the hollow filter segments may be positioned between a cooling tube and the double length first filter.

[0082] In a further alternative step 303b the double length wrapped filter is cut to create a first and a second wrapped filter. Preferably the double length wrapped filter is cut in the middle of the double length filled filter segment to create a first and a second wrapped filter.

[0083] In a further step 204 the first and/or a second wrapped filter will each be wrapped together with at least a part of a tobacco segment 10 with a second combining wrapper 60 such that the cavity 20a or rather the cooling tube 20 is positioned between a filter and the tobacco segment. It is possible that the first combining wrapper 50, the cooling tube 20, the hollow filter segment 30 and/or the filled filter segment 40 are arranged as described above and/or formed as described above.

[0084] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the double length filter 4 with a double length cooling tube 20. The shown double length filter 4 construction comprises at least one double length cooling tube 20 or two cooling tubes 20 attached to each other, two hollow filter segments 30, and two filled filter segments 40. The double length filter 4 construction is preferably wrapped in at least one double length first combining wrapper 50. It is also conceivable to use two or more wrappings in the double length filter 4 constructions. Each of the hollow filter segments 30 preferably comprise tubular parts 31. The first filter 4 construction is connected at a middle M to the second filter 4 construction. It is conceivable that the shown double length filter 4 construction comprises a double length cooling tube 20 which is divisible at the middle M in two separate cooling tubes 20. The first separated cooling tube 20 is preferably a part of the double length cooling tube 20 and is connected to the first filter 4 construction. The second separated cooling tube 20 is preferably another part of the double length cooling tube 20 being connected to the second filter 4 construction. Preferably both parts of the double length cooling tube 20 are equal to each other. Preferably two separated filter 4 constructions equal to each other are divisible by cutting the double length filter 4 construction at the middle M, in particular at the middle M of the double length cooling tube 20.

[0085] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the double length filter 4 with a double length filled filter segment 40. This example of the double length filter 4 construction is substantially similar to the example shown in FIG. 3. Preferably the shown double length filter 4 construction comprises at least the double length filled filter segment 40 or two filled filter segments 40 which are attached to each other, two hollow filter segments 30 comprising tubular parts 31 and two cooling tubes 20. The double length filter 4 construction further comprises at least a double length first combining wrapper 50. Similar to the double length filter 4 construction shown in FIG. 3, the filter 4 construction could also comprise more than one wrapping, preferably two wrappings. It is particularly advantageous for stability of the whole double length filter 4 construction.

[0086] The double length filter 4 construction is preferably divisible by cutting at the middle M. Preferably the middle M of the double length filter 4 construction corresponds to the middle M of the double length filled filter segment 40. Also preferably the double length filled filter segment 40 is divisible in two parts. Preferably the first filled filter segment 40 being a part of the double length filled filter segment 40 is connected to the first hollow filter segment 40 and to the first cooling tube 20. Preferably the second filled filter segment 40 being a part of the double length filled filter segment 40 is connected to the second hollow filter segment 40 and to the second cooling tube 20. Preferably both parts of the double length filled filter segments 40 are equal to each other.

[0087] The shown double length filter 4 constructions in FIGS. 3 and 4 are preferably attachable to several kinds of smoking constructions 1, preferably to the heat-not-burn smoking constructions.

[0088] FIG. 5a shows a cross-sectional view of the double length smoking construction 1 with a double length filled filter segment 40. Preferably the double length smoking construction 1 comprises at least two filters 4 and two tobacco segments 10. Each of two filters 4 preferably comprises at least a cooling tube 20, a hollow filter segment 30 and a filled filter segment 40. Preferably the hollow filter segments 30 comprise tubular parts 31. The whole double length smoking construction 1 is preferably wrapped at least in a double length first combining wrapper 50 and a double length second combining wrapper 60. As the tobacco segments have their own wrapper before their placement against the double length filter construction, the second combining wrapper 60 may extend partially on the tobacco segments 10 (without extending to the free end of the tobacco segments). It is also conceivable to provide more than two wrappers for this construction 1.

[0089] Preferably the double length filled filter segment 40 or the whole filter 4 corresponds to the example shown in FIG. 4. The double length filled filter segment 40 is preferably divisible at the middle M of the double length smoking construction 1 or the middle M of the double length filled filter segment 40. In particular, the middle M of the double length smoking construction 1 corresponds to the middle M of the double length filled filter segment 40.

[0090] FIG. 5b shows a cross-sectional view of the double length smoking construction 1 with a double length tobacco segment 10. Preferably the double length smoking construction 1 comprises at least two filters 4 and a double length tobacco segment 10. The filters 4 preferably comprise at least a cooling tube 20, a hollow filter segment 30 and a filled filter segment 40. Preferably the hollow filter segments 30 comprise tubular parts 31. The whole double length smoking construction 1 is preferably wrapped at least in two first combining wrapper 50 and a double length second combining wrapper 60. The double length tobacco segment 10 is preferably divisible at the middle M of the double length smoking construction 1 or the middle M of the double length tobacco segment 10. In particular, the middle M of the double length smoking construction 1 corresponds to the middle M of the double length tobacco segment 10. In an alternative, the second combining wrapper 60 can be formed of two separate second combining wrappers separately combining the filters 4 to the double length tobacco segment 10. In this case, the two second combining wrappers 60 do not overlap or extend to the middle M of the double length tobacco segment 10.

[0091] Preferably the double length tobacco segment 10 is divided by cutting in two parts. First part of the double length tobacco segment 10 is preferably attached to the first filter 4. Second part of the double length tobacco segment 10 is preferably attached to the second filter 4.

[0092] The applicant reserves his right to claim all features disclosed in the application document as being an essential feature of the invention, as long as they are new, individually or in combination, in view of the prior art. Furthermore, it is noted that in the figures features are described, which can be advantageous individually. Someone skilled in the art will directly recognize that a specific feature being disclosed in a figure can be advantageous also without the adoption of further features from this figure. Furthermore, someone skilled in the art will recognize that advantages can evolve from a combination of diverse features being disclosed in one or various figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0093] 1 Smoking construction

[0094] 2 Length direction

[0095] 3 Longitudinal axis

[0096] 5 Ventilation holes

[0097] 10 Tobacco segment

[0098] 20 Cooling tube

[0099] 20a Cavity in the cooling tube

[0100] 30 Hollow filter segment

[0101] 31 Tubular part of the hollow filter segment

[0102] 40 Filled filter segment

[0103] 50 First combining wrapper

[0104] 60 Second combining wrapper

[0105] 70 Length of the cooling tube

[0106] 80 Length of the first combining wrapper

[0107] 90 Length of the filter

[0108] 100 Length of the tobacco segment

[0109] 110 Length of the wrapped filter

[0110] 120 Length of the second combining wrapper

[0111] 130 Length of the smoking construction

[0112] 200 Method of producing the smoking construction

[0113] 201 Providing the tobacco segment

[0114] 201b Providing a second tobacco segment

[0115] 202 Providing a filter

[0116] 203 Wrapping at least one filter and creating the cooling tube

[0117] 203a Creating a double length wrapped filter

[0118] 203b Cutting the double length filter

[0119] 204 Wrapping a wrapped filter and the tobacco segment

[0120] 302 Providing a double length filled filter segment

[0121] 303 Wrapping the double length filled filter segment and two hollow filter segments

[0122] 303b Cutting a double length wrapped filter

[0123] M Middle of the double length filter/Middle of the double length smoking construction