US20110132381A1 - Rapidly degradable filters via electron ionization - Google Patents
Rapidly degradable filters via electron ionization Download PDFInfo
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- US20110132381A1 US20110132381A1 US13/016,486 US201113016486A US2011132381A1 US 20110132381 A1 US20110132381 A1 US 20110132381A1 US 201113016486 A US201113016486 A US 201113016486A US 2011132381 A1 US2011132381 A1 US 2011132381A1
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- Prior art keywords
- cellulose acetate
- fibers
- acetate fibers
- electron beam
- filter
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
- A24D3/02—Manufacture of tobacco smoke filters
- A24D3/0204—Preliminary operations before the filter rod forming process, e.g. crimping, blooming
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
- A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
- A24D3/067—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters characterised by functional properties
- A24D3/068—Biodegradable or disintegrable
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24D—CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES FOR CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- A24D3/00—Tobacco smoke filters, e.g. filter-tips, filtering inserts; Filters specially adapted for simulated smoking devices; Mouthpieces for cigars or cigarettes
- A24D3/06—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters
- A24D3/08—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent
- A24D3/10—Use of materials for tobacco smoke filters of organic materials as carrier or major constituent of cellulose or cellulose derivatives
Definitions
- Smoking articles particularly cigarettes, generally comprise a tobacco rod of shredded tobacco (also referred to as cut filler) surrounded by a paper wrapper, and a cylindrical filter aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod.
- the filter includes one or more segments of cellulose acetate tow material attached to the tobacco rod by tipping paper.
- Tobacco smoke filters typically do not readily disintegrate due to the highly entangled nature of the cellulose acetate fibers, the solvents and plasticizers used to bind the fibers and crimping of the fibers.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a smoking article, in the form of a cigarette having a filter containing cellulose acetate fibers, which have been exposed to an electron beam process in accordance with one embodiment.
- FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a smoking article including a filter comprised of cellulose acetate fibers, which have been subjected to an electron beam process to deacetylate the cellulose acetate fibers.
- FIG. 3 shows an electron beam process to ionize cellulose acetate filament or fibers during the manufacturing of the cellulose acetate fibers.
- FIG. 4 shows an electron beam process to ionize the cellulose acetate fibers of a finished tow bundle or filter rod.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a smoking article 10 , in the form of a cigarette having a filter 40 containing at least one plug of cellulose acetate fibers 46 ( FIG. 2 ), which have been exposed to an electron beam process.
- smoking articles 10 in the form of cigarettes typically include a generally cylindrical rod 20 of smoking material, contained in a circumscribing outer wrapper 30 , and a filter 40 .
- the outer wrapper 30 is typically a porous wrapping material or paper wrapper.
- the rod 20 is typically referred to as a “tobacco rod” and has a lit end 12 and a tipped end 14 .
- the smoking material is preferably a shredded tobacco (tobacco cut filler). However, any suitable smoking material can be used.
- the filter 40 is adjacent to the tipped end 14 of the tobacco rod 20 such that the filter 40 and tobacco rod 20 are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship, preferably abutting one another.
- the filter 40 has a generally cylindrical shape, and the diameter thereof is essentially equal to the diameter of the tobacco rod 20 .
- the ends (i.e., upstream end 16 and downstream end 18 ) of the filter 40 permit the passage of air and smoke therethrough.
- the filter 40 preferably includes at least one plug of filter material 42 circumscribed by a plug wrap 44 .
- the at least one plug of filter material 42 preferably include at least one segment of cellulose acetate tow material 48 ( FIG. 2 ), which is comprised of cellulose acetate filaments or fibers 46 .
- the plug wrap 44 is a paper, which optionally incorporates a carbonaceous material.
- the plug wrap 44 circumscribes the total length of the filter 40 .
- the filter 40 is attached to the tobacco rod 20 by a tipping material 50 , which circumscribes the filter 40 and an adjacent region of the tobacco rod 20 .
- the tipping material 50 is typically a paper like product; however, any suitable material can be used.
- the inner surface of the tipping material 50 is fixedly secured to the outer surface of the plug wrap 44 and the outer surface of the wrapping material 30 of the tobacco rod 20 , using a suitable adhesive.
- the adhesive is preferably a water-soluble adhesive.
- a ventilated or air diluted smoking article 10 can be provided with an air dilution means, such as a series of ventilation holes or perforations 52 , each of which extend through the tipping material 50 and optionally the plug wrap 44 .
- FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a smoking article 10 including a filter 40 , which has been subjected to an electron beam process to deacetylate the cellulose acetate fibers 46 .
- the deacetylating of the cellulose acetate fibers 46 imparts chain scissioning to the highly entangled cellulose acetate fibers 46 , making the filter material 42 water-permeable.
- the water-permeable material allows the discarded smoking article 10 to rapidly degrade and disintegrate in the environment. It can be appreciated that by subjecting the cellulose acetate fibers 46 to electron radiation, many of the carbon-carbon bonds may be broken, such that the resulting radicals tend to re-link with hydrogen atoms, creating shorter polymer chains.
- the cellulose acetate fibers 46 can be exposed to electron beam processing before or after the cellulose acetate fibers 46 have been manufactured into cellulose acetate tows 48 , after being processed into finished tow bundles or filter plugs, after manufacturing of the smoking article 10 , or after the smoking article 10 has been packaged.
- the electron beam process 60 can be used to ionize the cellulose acetate fibers 46 after the continuous monofilament or fibers 46 have been spun, and before the filament or fibers 46 are combined into a cellulose acetate tow bundle, wherein the ionization imparts chain scissioning to the continuous fibers 46 , making the finished acetate tow bundle water-permeable.
- the filter 40 includes one or more plugs of cellulose acetate filaments or fibers of cellulose acetate tow material 48 .
- the cellulose acetate tow material 48 is preferably a continuous filament band of cellulose acetate fibers 46 formed from an ester of cellulose.
- the preferred esters of cellulose include cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose propionate butyrate, and the like.
- a plasticizer may be added to the filter tow material 48 to impart firmness to the filter plugs.
- the filter tow material can include 2 to 15% plastizer, such as dibutyl phthalate, tripropionin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triacetin, polyethylene glycol with molecular weights from 200 to 600 (i.e., PEG200 to PEG600), or a mixture thereof, which can be applied by either spraying the surface of the cellulose acetate fiber 46 , by centrifugal force from a rotating drum apparatus, or by an immersion bath, which bonds the fibers 46 together.
- the plasticizer may be a water-soluble plasticizer such as the previously mentioned polyethylene glycol.
- the cellulose acetate fibers 46 dissolve in the conventional plasticizer fiber-to-fiber bonding agent. With the solvent action, the filaments become soft, and at the points where individual filaments touch, the softened surfaces fuse into a homogenous mass. These welded intersections hold the filaments firmly in position relative to adjacent filaments and an overall rigid structure results.
- FIG. 3 shows a method of forming a filter 40 for a smoking article 10 , which includes exposing the cellulose acetate fibers 46 to an electron beam process 60 , wherein the electron beam process 60 deacetylates the cellulose acetate fibers 46 to render the cellulose acetate fibers 46 water-permeable.
- the cellulose acetate fibers 46 can be exposed to the electron beam process 60 before being manufactured into a rod of cellulose acetate tow material.
- the electron beam process 60 comprises an electron beam source 70 , which ionizes the cellulose acetate fibers 46 , and imparts chain scissioning to the acetate fibers 46 , making the finished acetate tow bundle or plugs of the fibers water-permeable.
- the cellulose acetate fibers 46 can be modified when exposed or bombarded with radiation including accelerated charged particles, such as electrons and protons and particles emitted by the electron beam source 70 .
- the ionization of the cellulose acetate fibers 46 preferably can be preformed using any suitable electron beam source 70 .
- the radiation dose is preferably between about 0.1 and 20 kGy, wherein the radiation dose is measured in terms of the amount of radiation energy absorbed per unit mass of the material.
- the amount of energy absorbed, (also known as the dose), is measured in units of kiloGrays (kGy), where 1 kGy is equal to 1,000 Joules per kilogram, or MegaRads (MR or Mrad), where 1 MR is equal to 1,000,000 ergs per gram, and where 10 kGy is equal to 1 Mrad.
- the amount of energy absorbed is a function of a residence time or time of exposure under constant irradiation at a given dose rate to a dose level preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 kGy, and more preferably to dose levels in the range of 0.2 to 7.0 kGy, and most preferably to dose levels in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 kGy.
- the cellulose acetate tow can be prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,794,239, and 2,953,838, which are hereby incorporated by reference.
- a cellulose pulp derived from wood or cotton fibers is mixed with acetic anhydride and acetic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as sulfuric acid.
- the cellulose and acetic anhydride form cellulose acetate and acetic acid.
- an average of approximately 2.9 of the 3 available hydroxyl groups are acylated or substituted with the acetate.
- the polymer is hydrolyzed to the level of substitution of approximately 2.5, which forms cellulose acetate in a flake form.
- the cellulose acetate flake is then dissolved in acetone to form a viscous solution.
- a whitening agent such as titanium dioxide may be added.
- the viscous solution is then filtered and spun into filaments through an extrusion process by forcing the cellulose acetate solution under high pressure through a spinerette having tiny holes to thereby form individual acetate filaments.
- the holes in the spinerette may have varying shapes, such as square, triangular and round. Triangular shaped holes result in a trilobal or Y-shaped filament, which has been shown to have a high surface area versus weight, desirable for efficient smoke filtration.
- the filaments or fibers 46 are then combined into a tow band and put through a crimping process.
- the crimping process is performed by feeding the tow band of uncrimped fibers 46 into a crimping chamber.
- the tow band is fed into the crimping chamber with feed rollers.
- the crimping chamber has means for restraining the movement of the tow band out of the crimp chamber, which imparts a zig-zag crimp formation to the tow band.
- the crimping process entangles the fibers 46 and improves the filtration efficiency.
- the crimped tow band is then dried and laid out in a specified pattern to form a bale.
- the pattern is such that the tow band can be easily pulled out of the bale at a high rate of speed in the future by a customer.
- the bale is compressed and then used to manufacture filter rods.
- the filter rod is a wrapped filter element having a length, which is usually four or six times the length of an individual filter element attached to a cigarette 10 .
- Filter rods 40 may have a similar diameter as the cigarettes 10 in which they are used and may be covered by white paper (or plug wrap).
- a process for producing filter rods is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,988, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
- FIG. 4 shows an electron beam process to ionize the cellulose acetate fibers 46 formed into a filter rod of two material 48 .
- the cellulose acetate fibers 46 can be exposed to the electron beam processing 60 during any portion of the manufacturing process of the filter 40 , including during the formation of the cellulose acetate flakes, the formation of the cellulose acetate filament or fibers 46 , or after the tow bundle material 48 has been formed in the crimping process.
- the cellulose acetate fibers 46 can be passed under the electron beam source 70 using a device or apparatus such as a conveyors or conveyor belt 80 , carts, reel-to-reel equipment, or other specialized handling means.
- the electron beam processing 60 can be applied to the filter tow material 48 during manufacturing of the filter 40 .
- the filter rod can be exposed to the electron beam process 60 .
- the finished filter rod includes a plug wrap adhesive, which is applied to one side of a plug wrap paper, and the adhesive treated tipping paper attaches filter 40 to tobacco rod 20 .
- the finished filter 40 can be treated with an electron beam process 60 .
- the electron beam processing 60 can be used in the formation of the continuous monofilament or fiber 46 , including after the continuous monofilament 46 has been spun, after the continuous monofilament 46 has been spun and dried, during formation of a filter rod in the plasticizer booth after blooming, or used on a finished filter rod .
- the electron beam process 60 can also be used on the finished filter 40 at any point used to convey finished filters to cigarette manufacturing processes or cigarette making after tipping, or in the packing process on pack or carton drying conveyors, or case conveyors, including wherein the electron beam processing 60 can be used on cases of finished cigarettes outside of a manufacturer thereof but within the control of the manufacturer, or at a finished goods warehouse.
- the processing may further include electron beam treatment of the cigarette to reduce or eliminate microbes and/or cigarette beetles or other pests in conjunction with the aforementioned electron beam processing for biodegradability.
Abstract
A method of forming a filter for a smoking article which includes exposing cellulose acetate fibers to an electron beam process, wherein electron beam process deacetylates the cellulose acetate fibers to render the cellulose acetate fibers water-permeable; and forming a cellulose acetate rod from a tow of the cellulose acetate fibers. Filter plugs of the cellulose acetate fibers are water-permeable and allow discarded filtered smoking articles to rapidly degrade and expose the components to the environment.
Description
- This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional Application No. 60/836,145, filed on Aug. 8, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- Smoking articles, particularly cigarettes, generally comprise a tobacco rod of shredded tobacco (also referred to as cut filler) surrounded by a paper wrapper, and a cylindrical filter aligned in an end-to-end relationship with the tobacco rod. Typically, the filter includes one or more segments of cellulose acetate tow material attached to the tobacco rod by tipping paper.
- After the smoking article is consumed, the remaining tobacco rod and filter is discarded. Tobacco smoke filters, however, typically do not readily disintegrate due to the highly entangled nature of the cellulose acetate fibers, the solvents and plasticizers used to bind the fibers and crimping of the fibers.
- Efforts have been expended in the past to enhance biodegradability of discarded filtered smoking articles. Despite the developments to date, there is interest in improved techniques for developing filters containing cellulose acetate fibers having an enhanced biodegradation rate.
-
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a smoking article, in the form of a cigarette having a filter containing cellulose acetate fibers, which have been exposed to an electron beam process in accordance with one embodiment. -
FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of a smoking article including a filter comprised of cellulose acetate fibers, which have been subjected to an electron beam process to deacetylate the cellulose acetate fibers. -
FIG. 3 shows an electron beam process to ionize cellulose acetate filament or fibers during the manufacturing of the cellulose acetate fibers. -
FIG. 4 shows an electron beam process to ionize the cellulose acetate fibers of a finished tow bundle or filter rod. -
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of asmoking article 10, in the form of a cigarette having afilter 40 containing at least one plug of cellulose acetate fibers 46 (FIG. 2 ), which have been exposed to an electron beam process. As shown inFIG. 1 , smokingarticles 10 in the form of cigarettes, typically include a generallycylindrical rod 20 of smoking material, contained in a circumscribingouter wrapper 30, and afilter 40. Theouter wrapper 30 is typically a porous wrapping material or paper wrapper. Therod 20 is typically referred to as a “tobacco rod” and has alit end 12 and a tippedend 14. The smoking material is preferably a shredded tobacco (tobacco cut filler). However, any suitable smoking material can be used. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , thefilter 40 is adjacent to the tippedend 14 of thetobacco rod 20 such that thefilter 40 andtobacco rod 20 are axially aligned in an end-to-end relationship, preferably abutting one another. Thefilter 40 has a generally cylindrical shape, and the diameter thereof is essentially equal to the diameter of thetobacco rod 20. The ends (i.e., upstreamend 16 and downstream end 18) of thefilter 40 permit the passage of air and smoke therethrough. - The
filter 40 preferably includes at least one plug offilter material 42 circumscribed by aplug wrap 44. The at least one plug offilter material 42 preferably include at least one segment of cellulose acetate tow material 48 (FIG. 2 ), which is comprised of cellulose acetate filaments orfibers 46. Theplug wrap 44 is a paper, which optionally incorporates a carbonaceous material. Theplug wrap 44 circumscribes the total length of thefilter 40. Thefilter 40 is attached to thetobacco rod 20 by a tippingmaterial 50, which circumscribes thefilter 40 and an adjacent region of thetobacco rod 20. The tippingmaterial 50 is typically a paper like product; however, any suitable material can be used. The inner surface of the tippingmaterial 50 is fixedly secured to the outer surface of theplug wrap 44 and the outer surface of the wrappingmaterial 30 of thetobacco rod 20, using a suitable adhesive. It can be appreciated that in one embodiment, the adhesive is preferably a water-soluble adhesive. A ventilated or air dilutedsmoking article 10 can be provided with an air dilution means, such as a series of ventilation holes orperforations 52, each of which extend through the tippingmaterial 50 and optionally theplug wrap 44. -
FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of asmoking article 10 including afilter 40, which has been subjected to an electron beam process to deacetylate thecellulose acetate fibers 46. The deacetylating of thecellulose acetate fibers 46 imparts chain scissioning to the highly entangledcellulose acetate fibers 46, making thefilter material 42 water-permeable. The water-permeable material allows thediscarded smoking article 10 to rapidly degrade and disintegrate in the environment. It can be appreciated that by subjecting thecellulose acetate fibers 46 to electron radiation, many of the carbon-carbon bonds may be broken, such that the resulting radicals tend to re-link with hydrogen atoms, creating shorter polymer chains. - In addition, it can be appreciated that the
cellulose acetate fibers 46 can be exposed to electron beam processing before or after thecellulose acetate fibers 46 have been manufactured intocellulose acetate tows 48, after being processed into finished tow bundles or filter plugs, after manufacturing of thesmoking article 10, or after the smokingarticle 10 has been packaged. For example, in accordance with one embodiment, theelectron beam process 60 can be used to ionize thecellulose acetate fibers 46 after the continuous monofilament orfibers 46 have been spun, and before the filament orfibers 46 are combined into a cellulose acetate tow bundle, wherein the ionization imparts chain scissioning to thecontinuous fibers 46, making the finished acetate tow bundle water-permeable. - The
filter 40 includes one or more plugs of cellulose acetate filaments or fibers of celluloseacetate tow material 48. The celluloseacetate tow material 48 is preferably a continuous filament band ofcellulose acetate fibers 46 formed from an ester of cellulose. The preferred esters of cellulose include cellulose acetate, cellulose propionate, cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose propionate butyrate, and the like. - In addition, a plasticizer may be added to the
filter tow material 48 to impart firmness to the filter plugs. The filter tow material can include 2 to 15% plastizer, such as dibutyl phthalate, tripropionin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triacetin, polyethylene glycol with molecular weights from 200 to 600 (i.e., PEG200 to PEG600), or a mixture thereof, which can be applied by either spraying the surface of thecellulose acetate fiber 46, by centrifugal force from a rotating drum apparatus, or by an immersion bath, which bonds thefibers 46 together. The plasticizer may be a water-soluble plasticizer such as the previously mentioned polyethylene glycol. - It can be appreciated that in sufficient quantities, the
cellulose acetate fibers 46 dissolve in the conventional plasticizer fiber-to-fiber bonding agent. With the solvent action, the filaments become soft, and at the points where individual filaments touch, the softened surfaces fuse into a homogenous mass. These welded intersections hold the filaments firmly in position relative to adjacent filaments and an overall rigid structure results. -
FIG. 3 shows a method of forming afilter 40 for asmoking article 10, which includes exposing thecellulose acetate fibers 46 to anelectron beam process 60, wherein theelectron beam process 60 deacetylates thecellulose acetate fibers 46 to render thecellulose acetate fibers 46 water-permeable. As shown inFIG. 3 , thecellulose acetate fibers 46 can be exposed to theelectron beam process 60 before being manufactured into a rod of cellulose acetate tow material. Theelectron beam process 60 comprises anelectron beam source 70, which ionizes thecellulose acetate fibers 46, and imparts chain scissioning to theacetate fibers 46, making the finished acetate tow bundle or plugs of the fibers water-permeable. - In accordance with one embodiment, the
cellulose acetate fibers 46 can be modified when exposed or bombarded with radiation including accelerated charged particles, such as electrons and protons and particles emitted by theelectron beam source 70. The ionization of thecellulose acetate fibers 46 preferably can be preformed using any suitableelectron beam source 70. - In accordance with one embodiment for the treatment of
cellulose acetate fibers 46, the radiation dose is preferably between about 0.1 and 20 kGy, wherein the radiation dose is measured in terms of the amount of radiation energy absorbed per unit mass of the material. Typically, the amount of energy absorbed, (also known as the dose), is measured in units of kiloGrays (kGy), where 1 kGy is equal to 1,000 Joules per kilogram, or MegaRads (MR or Mrad), where 1 MR is equal to 1,000,000 ergs per gram, and where 10 kGy is equal to 1 Mrad. In addition, it can be appreciated that the amount of energy absorbed is a function of a residence time or time of exposure under constant irradiation at a given dose rate to a dose level preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 kGy, and more preferably to dose levels in the range of 0.2 to 7.0 kGy, and most preferably to dose levels in the range of 0.3 to 3.0 kGy. - The cellulose acetate tow can be prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,794,239, and 2,953,838, which are hereby incorporated by reference. In the manufacturing of plugs of cellulose
acetate tow material 48, a cellulose pulp derived from wood or cotton fibers is mixed with acetic anhydride and acetic acid in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. The cellulose and acetic anhydride form cellulose acetate and acetic acid. In the acylation of cellulose, an average of approximately 2.9 of the 3 available hydroxyl groups are acylated or substituted with the acetate. Next, the polymer is hydrolyzed to the level of substitution of approximately 2.5, which forms cellulose acetate in a flake form. The cellulose acetate flake is then dissolved in acetone to form a viscous solution. A whitening agent, such as titanium dioxide may be added. - The viscous solution is then filtered and spun into filaments through an extrusion process by forcing the cellulose acetate solution under high pressure through a spinerette having tiny holes to thereby form individual acetate filaments. The holes in the spinerette may have varying shapes, such as square, triangular and round. Triangular shaped holes result in a trilobal or Y-shaped filament, which has been shown to have a high surface area versus weight, desirable for efficient smoke filtration. After the cellulose acetate solution is pressurized through the spinerette, the fibers fall from the spinerette in fine streams downward through a curing chamber where warm air evaporates the acetone and solidifies the streams of cellulose acetate into separate fibers or
filaments 46. - The filaments or
fibers 46 are then combined into a tow band and put through a crimping process. The crimping process is performed by feeding the tow band ofuncrimped fibers 46 into a crimping chamber. The tow band is fed into the crimping chamber with feed rollers. The crimping chamber has means for restraining the movement of the tow band out of the crimp chamber, which imparts a zig-zag crimp formation to the tow band. The crimping process entangles thefibers 46 and improves the filtration efficiency. - The crimped tow band is then dried and laid out in a specified pattern to form a bale. The pattern is such that the tow band can be easily pulled out of the bale at a high rate of speed in the future by a customer. The bale is compressed and then used to manufacture filter rods. The filter rod is a wrapped filter element having a length, which is usually four or six times the length of an individual filter element attached to a
cigarette 10.Filter rods 40 may have a similar diameter as thecigarettes 10 in which they are used and may be covered by white paper (or plug wrap). A process for producing filter rods is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,900,988, which is hereby incorporated by reference. -
FIG. 4 shows an electron beam process to ionize thecellulose acetate fibers 46 formed into a filter rod of twomaterial 48. As shown inFIG. 4 , it can be appreciated that thecellulose acetate fibers 46 can be exposed to theelectron beam processing 60 during any portion of the manufacturing process of thefilter 40, including during the formation of the cellulose acetate flakes, the formation of the cellulose acetate filament orfibers 46, or after thetow bundle material 48 has been formed in the crimping process. It can be appreciated that in a preferred embodiment, thecellulose acetate fibers 46, whether in the form of a cellulose acetate flake, a dry spun fiber or a completed filter rod can be passed under theelectron beam source 70 using a device or apparatus such as a conveyors orconveyor belt 80, carts, reel-to-reel equipment, or other specialized handling means. - Alternatively, the
electron beam processing 60 can be applied to thefilter tow material 48 during manufacturing of thefilter 40. For example, after the fiber-to-fiber bonding agent is applied to thefibers 46, in a tow condensing and wrapping process, as the bundle offibers 46 are wrapped with plug wrap forming a filter rod, the filter rod can be exposed to theelectron beam process 60. The finished filter rod includes a plug wrap adhesive, which is applied to one side of a plug wrap paper, and the adhesive treated tipping paper attachesfilter 40 totobacco rod 20. In addition, it can be appreciated that thefinished filter 40 can be treated with anelectron beam process 60. - In addition, the
electron beam processing 60 can be used in the formation of the continuous monofilament orfiber 46, including after thecontinuous monofilament 46 has been spun, after thecontinuous monofilament 46 has been spun and dried, during formation of a filter rod in the plasticizer booth after blooming, or used on a finished filter rod . In addition, it can be appreciated that theelectron beam process 60 can also be used on thefinished filter 40 at any point used to convey finished filters to cigarette manufacturing processes or cigarette making after tipping, or in the packing process on pack or carton drying conveyors, or case conveyors, including wherein theelectron beam processing 60 can be used on cases of finished cigarettes outside of a manufacturer thereof but within the control of the manufacturer, or at a finished goods warehouse. - If the
electron beam processing 60 is applied to finished cigarettes, the processing may further include electron beam treatment of the cigarette to reduce or eliminate microbes and/or cigarette beetles or other pests in conjunction with the aforementioned electron beam processing for biodegradability. - It will be understood that the foregoing description is of the preferred embodiments, and is, therefore, merely representative of the article and methods of manufacturing the same. It can be appreciated that many variations and modifications of the different embodiments in light of the above teachings will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the articles and methods as set forth in the attached claims.
- All of the above-mentioned references are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Claims (19)
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. (canceled)
8. (canceled)
9. (canceled)
10. A smoking article comprising:
a rod of smoking material; and
a filter operative with the rod of smoking material, the filter comprising at least one cellulose acetate plug formed from cellulose acetate fibers, and wherein the cellulose acetate fibers are in a condition of having been exposed to an electron beam process, wherein the electron beam process deacetylates at least some of the cellulose acetate fibers, whereby at least some of the cellulose acetate fibers are rendered water-permeable.
11. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein the filter includes a single plug of the cellulose acetate fibers.
12. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the cellulose acetate fibers are in a condition of having the electron beam process applied while the cellulose acetate fibers are cellulose acetate flakes.
13. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein the cellulose acetate fibers are in a condition of having the electron beam process applied to a finished tow bundle after the fibers have been put through a crimping process.
14. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein the cellulose acetate fibers are in a condition of having the electron beam process applied to a finished smoking article.
15. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein the smoking article is a cigarette.
16. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein the electron beam process comprises exposing at least some of the cellulose acetate fibers to no more than 7.0 kGy of electron ionization.
17. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein the electron beam process comprises exposing at least some of the cellulose acetate fibers to no more than 3.0 kGy of electron ionization.
18. The smoking article of claim 10 , wherein the cellulose acetate fibers are formed from an ester of cellulose.
19. (canceled)
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US13/016,486 US20110132381A1 (en) | 2006-08-08 | 2011-01-28 | Rapidly degradable filters via electron ionization |
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US83614506P | 2006-08-08 | 2006-08-08 | |
US11/882,278 US7896011B2 (en) | 2006-08-08 | 2007-07-31 | Method of forming a filter component |
US13/016,486 US20110132381A1 (en) | 2006-08-08 | 2011-01-28 | Rapidly degradable filters via electron ionization |
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US11/882,278 Division US7896011B2 (en) | 2006-08-08 | 2007-07-31 | Method of forming a filter component |
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US13/016,486 Abandoned US20110132381A1 (en) | 2006-08-08 | 2011-01-28 | Rapidly degradable filters via electron ionization |
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US (2) | US7896011B2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2008017958A2 (en) |
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DE102007061933A1 (en) * | 2007-12-21 | 2009-07-02 | Rhodia Acetow Gmbh | Filter tow bale, apparatus and method for making a filter tow bale and filter tow strip |
US8397733B2 (en) * | 2010-01-15 | 2013-03-19 | Celanese Acetate Llc | Degradable cigarette filter: pill with multilayered coating |
AR081483A1 (en) | 2010-03-26 | 2012-09-19 | Philip Morris Prod | WRAPPERS FOR REMOVABLE PLUGS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS |
US9289012B2 (en) | 2011-07-29 | 2016-03-22 | R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Plasticizer composition for degradable polyester filter tow |
US8973588B2 (en) | 2011-07-29 | 2015-03-10 | R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company | Plasticizer composition for degradable polyester filter tow |
US8790556B2 (en) * | 2012-07-25 | 2014-07-29 | Celanese Acetate Llc | Process of making tri-arc filaments |
JP6368649B2 (en) * | 2012-12-13 | 2018-08-01 | 日本たばこ産業株式会社 | cigarette |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US7896011B2 (en) | 2011-03-01 |
US20080127988A1 (en) | 2008-06-05 |
WO2008017958A3 (en) | 2008-05-02 |
WO2008017958A2 (en) | 2008-02-14 |
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