Patent Publication Number: US-2019174817-A1

Title: Filter and tobacco product

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP2016/074041 filed on Aug. 17, 2016 and designated the U.S., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a filter and a tobacco product. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, there is proposed a filter cigarette, in which a tip section and a body section rotatably engage, the body section adjacent to the tip section, and the tip section are divided into one segment that is filled with a tobacco filter, and the other segment that is not filled with the tobacco filter, in the longitudinal direction, respectively, and a degree of filtration action of smoke is variable depending on a relative angle (for example, Patent document 1). There is proposed a smoking article in which an opening end region is surrounded by rolled letter paper having an opening, and tip adhering paper having an opening, and one opening is rotatable with respect to the other opening so as to adjust the degree of matching of the opening in order to change an among of air to the opening end region (for example, Patent document 2).
     [Patent document 1] U.S. Patent No. 3428050   [Patent document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-28318   

     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     Conventionally, a technology of varying a filtering characteristic or an air introduction ratio of a tobacco product is proposed, but a structure is complicated, and there is a problem that labor and cost in manufacturing are required. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable change of a filtering characteristic of a tobacco product with a simple configuration. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A filter according to one aspect of the present invention is a filter for a tobacco product provided with a through hole along the axial direction. Additionally, the filter includes a slit on a circumference of the filter along a circumferential direction, wherein a cross-sectional area of the through hole is changed by twisting both sides in the axial direction of the filter in relatively opposite directions along the circumferential direction with the slit as a boundary. 
     Thus, ventilation resistance is changed with the change of the cross-sectional area, and it is possible to change a filtering characteristic of the tobacco product including the filter. That is, the filtering characteristic of the tobacco product can be changed with a simple configuration. 
     A tobacco product according to another aspect of the present invention is a filter provided with a through hole along an axial direction, the filter including a slit on a circumference of the filter along a circumferential direction, wherein a cross-sectional area of the through hole is changed by twisting both sides in the axial direction of the filter in relatively opposite directions along the circumferential direction with the slit as a boundary; tip paper that wraps at least a part of the filter; and a tobacco rod including shredded tobacco and connected to the filter through the tip paper. Thus, ventilation resistance is changed with the change of the cross-sectional area, and a filtering characteristic of the tobacco product is also changed. That is, the filtering characteristic of the tobacco product can be changed with a simple configuration. 
     The tip paper may have a cut or slits along the circumferential direction of the tobacco product, a portion on the shredded tobacco side with respect to the cut or the slits may be connected to a portion on the shredded tobacco side with respect to the slit in the filter, and a portion on a mouthpiece side with respect to the cut or the slits in the tip paper may be connected to a portion on the mouthpiece side with respect to the slit in the filter. Thus, the tip paper connected to the portion on the shredded tobacco side with respect to the slit in the filter, and the tip paper connected to the portion on the mouthpiece side in the filter rotate in the directions opposite to each other with the cut as a boundary. 
     The tip paper may have a perforation on the mouthpiece side with respect to the slit of the filter. Thus, with the change of the cross-sectional area of the through hole of the filter, an air introduction ratio from a perforation when a user puffs the tobacco product is changed. 
     In the tobacco product, a seasoning source containing a taste component or a flavor component may be held on the tobacco rod side with respect to the slit. Thus, it is possible to provide the tobacco product capable of changing a discharge amount of the taste component or the flavor component by twisting the filter. 
     A solution for solving the problem of the present invention can be employed by combining as much as possible. 
     Effects of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to change a filtering characteristic of a tobacco product with a simple configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of a cigarette. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view for illustrating a modification of a center hole filter. 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view schematically representing a cigarette. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematically sectional view illustrating a state in which a CH segment of the cigarette is twisted. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematically sectional view illustrating a state in which the CH segment of the cigarette is further twisted. 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a cigarette including seasoning sources therein. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematically sectional view illustrating a state in which the CH segment of the cigarette is twisted. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematically longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a cigarette having a cavity holding seasoning sources. 
         FIG. 9  is a view schematically illustrating a method for manufacturing a cigarette. 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating an example of a cigarette  1  having a cut provided on a slit. 
         FIG. 11  is an example of a cross section of a cigarette cut on the slit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     An embodiment of a tobacco product according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a filter cigarette (paper-wrapped cigarette, sometimes simply referred to as a “cigarette”) being an example of a tobacco product. The cigarette  1  is formed in a substantially columnar shape. In this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the cigarette  1  is referred to as the axial direction, and a curved surface is also referred to as a side surface. The cigarette  1  includes a tobacco rod  11 , a center hole (CH) filter  12 , and an acetate filter  13 . The tobacco rod  11  is obtained by wrapping shreds of a leaf tobacco (also referred to as “shredded tobacco”) with rolled letter paper. The CH filter  12  is a cylindrical filter provided with a through hole (center hole)  121  at a substantially center of a cross section along the axial direction of a substantially columnar shaped filter. On a circumference of the CH filter  12  near the center in the axial direction, a slit  122  being a non-penetration cut is provided over a whole circumference along the circumferential direction. The CH filter  12  can be formed by adding a plasticizer to acetate fiber similarly to a general filter, and a side surface circumference is wrapped with material paper (not illustrated). The slit  122  is provided from above the material paper. The acetate filter  13  is a general filter formed in a columnar shape by acetate fiber. 
     The CH filter  12  and the acetate filter  13  are disposed adjacent in the axial direction, and side surface circumferences are wrapped with formed paper  14 , and the CH filter  12  and the acetate filter  13  are formed in a columnar shape. The formed paper  14  is provided with a cut  141  on a shred side in the axial direction of the cigarette  1  with respect to the slit  122 . In the formed paper  14 , an adhesive (not illustrated) is applied to a portion at which ends of the formed paper  14  overlap on each other, the ends of the formed paper  14  are stuck to each other, an adhesive (not illustrated) is also applied to a part of an inner circumference along the axial direction, and the CH filter  12  and the acetate filter  13  are adhered. 
     The tobacco rod  11  and the CH filter  12 , and the acetate filter  13  are disposed adjacent in the axial direction, side surface circumferences are wrapped with a tip paper  15 , and the tobacco rod  11 , the CH filter  12 , and the acetate filter  13  are formed in a columnar shape. The tip paper  15  is provided with a cut  151  on a shred side in the axial direction of the cigarette  1  with respect to the slit  122 , and is provided with an air supply unit (also referred to as an “perforation”)  152  being a through hole for taking air when a user of the cigarette  1  puffs, on the mouthpiece side (that is, the acetate filter  13  side) with respect to the slit  122 . The air supply unit  152  is an intake port that takes air for diluting mainstream smoke from outside in the filter. More specifically, an air supply unit  152  is composed of a plurality of dot-like holes provided over a whole circumference of the CH filter  12 . In the tip paper  15 , overlapped portions of ends of the tip paper  15  are stuck to each other with an adhesive, an adhesive (not illustrated) is also applied to a part of an inner circumference along the axial direction, and the tobacco rod  11  and the CH filter  12 , and the acetate filter  13  are adhered. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view for illustrating a modification of the CH filter  12 . As illustrated by the arrow of  FIG. 2 , in the CH filter  12  according to this embodiment, both sides in the axial direction of the slit  122  is twisted in the directions opposite to each other along the circumferential direction, so that the shape of the cross section can be changed. That is, the CH filter  12  is twisted, so that shearing stress is concentrated on a portion in which the slit  122  is provided, and the portion in which the slit  122  is provided is throttled, the inner diameter of the through hole  121  is reduced, and the through hole  121  can be closed. Thus, the CH filter  12  changes the ventilation resistance of the CH filter  12  with a simple configuration, and it is possible to change a ratio of air introduced from the air supply unit  152  (air introduction ratio). When the CH filter  12  is twisted, the outer diameter of the portion in which the slit  122  is provided may not be changed, or may be changed. 
       FIG. 3  is a longitudinal sectional view schematically representing the cigarette  1 . In  FIG. 3 , the thickness and the like of the rolled letter paper such as the tip paper are emphasized and represented, and clearances are provided in order to emphasize portions which are not adhered. The cigarette  1  has a plurality of segments that are regions having different properties arranged in the axial direction. More specifically, the cigarette  1  has a tobacco rod segment  110  including the tobacco rod  11 , a center hole (CH) segment  120  ( 120   a  and  120   b ) including the CH filter  12  having the through hole  121 , and an acetate filter segment  130  on the mouthpiece side including the acetate filter  13 . The slit  122  is provided at a substantially center in the axial direction of the CH filter  12 , and both sides of the slit  122  are divided into a shred side portion  120   a  and a mouthpiece side portion  120   b  in the example of  FIG. 3 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the formed paper  14  is provided with the cut  141  over a whole circumference of a side surface, and the tip paper  15  is provided with the cut  151  over a whole circumference of a side surface. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an adhesive  142  and an adhesive  153  between the formed paper  14  and the CH filter  12 , and the acetate filter  13 , and between the tip paper  15  and the tobacco rod  11 , and the formed paper  14 , respectively. The adhesive  142  and the adhesive  153  are each applied to a part in the circumferential direction. There are portions in which the adhesive  142  and the adhesive  153  are not applied to respective axial one parts over the whole circumferences corresponding to the cut  141  of the formed paper  14  and the cut  151  of the tip paper  15 . That is, the slit  122  communicates with the cut  151  of the tip paper  15  over the whole circumference of the side surface. In other words, the shred side of the cut  141  provided along the circumferential direction in the formed paper  14  is adhered to the shred side with respect to the slit  122  of the CH filter  12 , the mouthpiece side with respect to the cut  141  in the formed paper  14  is adhered to the mouthpiece side with respect to the slit  122  of the CH filter  12 . Similarly, the shred side of the cut  151  provided along the circumferential direction in the tip paper  15  is indirectly adhered to the shred side of the CH filter  12  with respect to the slit  122  through the formed paper  14 , and the mouthpiece side of the tip paper  15  with respect to the cut  151  is indirectly adhered to the mouthpiece side of the CH filter  12  with respect to the slit  122  through the formed paper  14 . Herein, when the shred side portion  120   a  and the mouthpiece side portion  120   b  of the slit  122  are connected through the formed paper  14  or the tip paper  15 , rotation is prevented when a user twists the CH filter  12 . In this embodiment, the cut  141  of the formed paper  14  and the cut  151  of the tip paper  15  are provided, so that the formed paper  14 , and the tip paper  15  are each divided into a portion connected to the shred side of the slit  122 , and the mouthpiece side of the slit  122 , and it is possible to relatively rotate the shred side portion  120   a  and the mouthpiece side portion  120   b.    
     The tip paper  15  is provided with the air supply unit  152 . In a state in which the through hole  121  is not throttled as in  FIG. 3 , the ventilation resistance of the through hole  121  is low, an amount of the air taken from the through hole  121  to the mouthpiece side is larger than an amount of the air taken from the air supply unit  152  to the mouthpiece side, as illustrated by the thickness of dash line arrows. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematically sectional view illustrating a state in which the CH segment  120  of the cigarette  1  illustrated in  FIG. 3  is twisted. In the example of  FIG. 4 , the shred side portion  120   a  and the mouthpiece side portion  120   b  of the CH segment  120  are twisted in the directions opposite to each other, the diameter of the cross section of the CH filter  12 , and the inner diameter of the through hole  121  inside the CH filter  12  are reduced at the portion of the slit  122  as a boundary compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 3 . At this time, the ventilation resistance of the through hole  121  is increased compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Therefore, as illustrated by dashed lines in  FIG. 4 , an introduction amount of the air taken from the through hole  121  is reduced compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 3 . On the other hand, an introduction amount of the air taken from the air supply unit  152  is increased compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematically sectional view illustrating a state in which the CH segment  120  of the cigarette illustrated in  FIG. 4  is further twisted. In the example of  FIG. 5 , the diameter of the cross section of the CH filter  12 , and the inner diameter of the through hole  121  inside the CH filter  12  are further reduced at the portion of the slit  122  compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and a state in which the through hole is completely closed by twisting is represented herein. At this time, the ventilation resistance of the through hole  121  is further increased compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Therefore, as illustrated by dashed lines in  FIG. 5 , an introduction amount of the air taken from the through hole  121  is further reduced compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and an introduction amount of the air taken from the air supply unit  152  is further increased compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     As described above, in the CH filter  12  of the cigarette  1  according to this embodiment, the cross-section area of the through hole  121  inside the CH filter  12  is changed by twisting. The ventilation resistance can be changed with this, and the introduction amount of the air from the air supply unit  152  is changed. That is, the air introduction ratio of the tobacco product can be changed with a simple configuration, and mainstream smoke passing through the CH filter can pass through a filter material portion, pass through a cavity portion, or be changed, and therefore it is possible to change a filtration rate of nicotine or tar. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIG. 6  is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a cigarette including seasoning sources therein. In Embodiment 2, powder balls  16  are included in a through hole  121 . The powder ball is a powder containing material obtained by forming base power containing at least any one of taste components and flavor components as one lump, and becomes powder by adding external force. When a user puffs, the powder passes through the through hole  121  to be introduced in oral cavity of the user. The user presses a cigarette  1  to make the powder balls  16  in the cigarette into powder, and puffs the powder, so that it is possible to obtain flavor or scent, or both. In the cigarette  1  according to this embodiment, the inner diameter of the through hole  121  is changed, so that the ventilation resistance is changed, and a discharge amount of the powder to the oral cavity of the user is changed at the same time. Such powder balls can be manufactured by using an existing technology. 
     In Embodiment 2, an acetate filter  13  is disposed between a tobacco rod  11  and a CH filter  12 . Thus, it is possible to prevent movement of the shred tobacco into the through hole  121 , and movement of the powder of the powder balls  16  into the tobacco rod  11 . In an end on the mouthpiece side, which a user holds in his/her mouth, the through hole  121  of the CH filter  12  is opened. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the through hole  121  is closed in an initial state of a product, so that powder balls  16  and its power are not spilled to the outside of the cigarette  1 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematically sectional view illustrating a state in which the CH segment  120  of the cigarette  1  illustrated in  FIG. 6  is twisted. That is,  FIG. 7  illustrates a state in which a shred side portion  120   a  and a mouthpiece side portion  120   b  of the CH segment  120  illustrated in  FIG. 6  are twisted in the direction opposite to each other, the directions being the directions in which the inner diameter of the through hole  121  are opened. In  FIG. 7 , at the portion of a slit  122  as a boundary, the diameter of the cross section of the CH filter  12 , and the inner diameter of the through hole  121  inside the CH filter  12  are increased compared to the state illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 7 , the powder balls  16  are crushed to become powder  16   a.  When a user puffs, the powder  16   a,  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , passes through the through hole  121  to move to an oral cavity of the user. 
     As described above, in the CH filter  12  of the cigarette  1  according to Embodiment 2, the ventilation resistance and the filtration rate can be changed by twisting. Consequently, it is possible to change the air introduction amount from an air supply unit  152 , and change a physical movement amount of the powder in the through hole  121 . 
     In  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , the powder balls  16  are illustrated. However, the cigarette  1  may hold flavor capsules (not illustrated) being a capsule-like seasoning source containing a liquid flavor component. A user can break the flavor capsules by applying external force to the flavor capsules by pressing from the outside of the cigarette  1 . When the flavor capsules are broken, the flavor components in the flavor capsules are discharged, and the flavor components are supported on the CH filter  12 . Then, at least a part of the flavor components is vaporized or aerosolized, and the user can feel flavor by puffing this. Also in this case, the user changes ventilation resistance by twisting the CH filter  12 , and changes an air introduction amount from the CH filter  12  (that is, an amount of the air introduced through a portion on which the flavor components are supported in the CH filter  12 ), so that it is possible to change an amount of the flavor component contained in intake air. Such flavor capsules can be also manufactured by using an existing technology. 
     The seasoning source such as the powder balls  16  and the flavor capsules may be held not in the through hole  121  of the CH filter  12 , but in a cavity being a cavity portion wrapped with tip paper or formed paper.  FIG. 8  is a schematically longitudinal sectional view illustrating an example of a cigarette having a cavity holding seasoning sources. In the example of  FIG. 8 , a cavity segment  160  being a cavity region wrapped with formed paper  14  and tip paper  15  is present between the acetate filter  13  and the CH filter  12  of the cigarette  1  illustrated in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 . Then the powder balls  16  are held in the cavity segment  160 . As described above, in place of the powder balls  16 , the flavor capsules may be held in the cavity. In a case in which the flavor capsules are held, a material having water resistance or oil resistance in accordance with a property of flavor contained by the flavor capsules may be employed as the formed paper  14  or the tip paper  15 . In Embodiment 2, any air supply unit  152  of the tip paper  15  may not be provided. 
     &lt;Manufacturing Method&gt; 
       FIG. 9  is a view schematically illustrating a method for manufacturing the cigarette  1  having the cavity illustrated in  FIG. 8 . First, the CH filter  12  having the through hole is formed at substantially the center of the cross section along the axial direction by a thermoforming apparatus (not illustrated) including a cylindrical cavity for forming the outer diameter of the filter, and a mandrel being a jig for providing a through hole in the filter. As illustrated by dashed lines, the CH filter  12  formed in a continuous rod-shape is cut to have twice the length of the filter of a product, for example (Step S 1 ). Thereafter, while each CH filter  12  is rotated in the circumferential direction, the slit  122  is formed around the CH filter  12  by a rotary cutter (Step S 2 ). The CH filters  12  are supplied to a combiner (not illustrated) being a filter manufacturing apparatus. Then, the CH filters  12  are disposed to be aligned with the above powder balls  16  and the acetate filter  13 , and are integrally packaged by the formed paper  14  (Step S 3 ). The cut  141  is provided in the formed paper  14 . Thereafter, a filter portion composed of the acetate filters  13  packaged with the formed paper  14 , the cavity containing the powder balls  16 , and the CH filters  12  is cut in a shape in which ends on the mouthpiece side are coupled, as illustrated by a dashed line. Then, the tobacco rods  11  are disposed adjacent to the acetate filters  13  at both ends, and are packaged with the tip paper  15 , and thereafter the single cigarette  1  is formed by cutting the center in the axial direction as illustrated by a dashed line (Step S 4 ). The tip paper  15  is provided with the cut  151 . The through hole is completely closed by twisting before the CH filter  12  formed with the slit  122  is supplied to the combiner, so that it is possible to prevent power leakage of the powder balls at the time of manufacturing. 
     &lt;Modification&gt; 
     In embodiment 1, the CH filter  12  and the acetate filter  13  may be reversely disposed. That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the cigarette  1  may include the CH filter  12  on the mouthpiece side, the acetate filter may be provided between the CH filter  12  and the tobacco rod  11 . The single acetate filter  13  may be provided on each of the both sides of the CH filter  12 . With these configurations, it is also possible to change an air introduction ratio or a filtration rate of the cigarette  1 . 
     In the embodiments or the modification, at least one of the cut  141  and the cut  151  may be a so-called slits. When a user twists the CH filter  12 , paper is separated along slits, the cut  141  and the cut  151  is formed, and the shred side portion  120   a  and the mouthpiece side portion  120   b  of the CH filter  12  rotate in the opposite directions. When such formed paper  14  or tip paper  15  is employed, the paper can package as integral rolled letter paper at the time of manufacturing, and can be separated as needed. Similarly, the cut  141  or the cut  151  may be previously separated, and ends of the cuts may overlap on each other. 
     Relative positions of the cut  141  or the cut  151 , and the slit  122  are not limited to the above example. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the cut  141  and the cut  151  may be provided substantially on the slit  122 . Thus, the slit  122  can be formed in a batch in a state in which the formed paper  14  or the tip paper  15  is wrapped, and the number of steps for manufacturing can be reduced. Similarly to the air supply unit  152 , outside air can be taken also from the slit  122 . On the other hand, the user twists the periphery of the slit  122  of the CH filter  12  to change the density of acetate fiber, and therefore in a case in which outside air is introduced from the slit  122 , it is difficult to design the amount of the outside air. Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 3  and the like, a case in which the cut  141  or the cut  151 , and the slit  122  is provided so as to be shifted in the axial direction is more preferable in improvement of accuracy of the introduction amount of air from the air supply unit  152 . The cut  141  or the cut  151  may be provided on the mouthpiece side in the axial direction with respect to the slit  122 . 
     The through hole  121  of the CH filter  12  may be provided at a position deviated from the center in cross-sectional view. However, the user more easily twists the CH filter  12  in a case in which the through hole  121  is provided at substantially the center of the CH filter. The depth of the slit  122  being a non-penetration groove may be constant over the whole circumference, or may be deviated. For example,  FIG. 11  is an example of an A-A sectional view taken along an A-A line illustrated in  FIG. 3 . More specifically,  FIG. 11  represents a cross section obtained by cutting the cigarette  1  on the slit  122 . In  FIG. 11 , the formed paper  14  or the tip paper  15  is omitted. The shape formed by the bottom of the slit  122  may be a precise circle concentric with the outer diameter of the cigarette  1  or the inner diameter of the through hole  121  in the cross-sectional view. The shape formed by the bottom of the slit  122  is made to be concentric with the outer diameter of the cigarette  1  or the inner diameter of the through hole  121 , so that when the user twists the CH filter  12 , the shearing stress is uniformly applied to the cross section of the CH filter  12 , and therefore twisting is facilitated. The shape of such a slit can be changed in accordance with the shape of a rotary cutter forming the slit. 
     An article that is a filter portion which does not includes the above tobacco rod  11 , and can be mounted on an arbitrary tobacco product may be provided. Examples of the tobacco product include cigarettes such as a filter cigarette including a filter, and untipped cigarettes with no filter, a cigar, and a cigarillo. 
     Preferable values of the depth of the slit, the ratio of the diameter of the filter and the diameter of the through hole, specifications such as the density of acetate fiber, a dosage of plasticizer, the material, the basis weight, and the like of formed paper or tip paper can be suitably selected. For example, in order to close the through hole  121 , the inner diameter of the through hole  121  is preferably at least a half the diameter of the CH filter  12 , and more preferably at least one-third the diameter of the CH filter  12 . In order to facilitate operation of twisting, the slit  122  is preferably deeper. On the other hand, for example, the residual thickness of the CH filter  12  formed with the slit  122  is preferably 1 mm or more in order to secure predetermined strength. Furthermore, a non-wrapped filter that does not use material paper may be used as the CH filter. Additionally, in a filter having a circumference wrapped with formed paper along with a CH filter, existing filters such as a charcoal filter and a tow-embedded capsule filter can be suitably combined in addition to the acetate filter. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  cigarette (tobacco product) 
           11  tobacco rod 
           12  center hole (CH) filter 
           13  acetate filter 
           14  formed paper 
           15  tip paper 
           16  powder ball (seasoning source) 
           16   a  powder 
           121  through hole 
           122  slit 
           141  cut 
           142  adhesive 
           151  cut 
           152  air supply unit (perforation) 
           153  adhesive