Patent Application
20230292817
In accordance with this disclosure, an improved cigarette wrapper and smoking article using that wrapper has remarkably low IP and SE values, which values satisfy various governmental regulations and requirements for smoking articles. The improved wrapper exhibits circumferential patch elements of add-on material, where the add-on material is applied in substantially rectangular shapes or patches in a single printing application. The patches have a width measured in the longitudinal direction of the wrapper, which width preferably lies in the range of about 5 to about 10 mm, more preferably in the range of about 6 to about 9 mm. The patches preferably also have a circumferential dimension which lies in the range of about 6 to about 10 mm, more preferably about 7 to about 9 mm, such that the patches of a row are circumferentially spaced from one another by a distance of about 5 mm
The patches are preferably applied to a base web using an aqueous starch solution containing an anti-wrinkling agent and calcium carbonate. Preferably, the anti-wrinkling agent comprises propylene glycol. Particularly preferred composition of the aqueous starch solution are explained more fully below. Nevertheless, when dried, the add-on material in the patches exhibits a diffusivity in the range of 0 to about 0.2 cm/sec, and preferably in the range of 0 to about 0.1 cm/sec.
Preferably, the add-on material is applied to the base web in a single step, gravure printing operation, which operation includes maintenance of the add-on material at temperatures sufficient to avoid degradation of the aqueous starch solution. Single pass operations with measures to abate wrinkling of the base web have been avoided to present difficult alignment and registration issues encountered in high speed multi-pass operations. Practice of the teachings herein provides a wrapper having enhanced consistency and more predictable ignition propensity (IP) and SE performances.
Preferably, the printed pattern on the base web includes one or more longitudinally extending lanes of spaced apart rows of patches of a nominal add-on rate, together with one or more lanes of test marks adjacent to the lane(s) of patches. Preferably, the test marks are applied to the base web at the same add-on rate as for the patch elements and may comprise a plurality of spaced-apart solid bands of add-on material or other geometric form of sufficient size and/or geometry to facilitate measurement of diffusivity for purposes of quality control. As spaced-apart solid bands, the test marks also can be used to optically inspect the base web during printing operations to confirm presence of desired print patterns along the base web during its conversion.
Many objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art when this specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are applied to like patch elements and wherein:
Referring to
Preferably, each patch (or patch element) 126 is rectangular and is formed of an add-on solution which is aqueous and applied in a single pass, gravure printing operation, which operation includes maintenance of the add-on material at temperatures sufficient to avoid degradation of the aqueous starch solution (see
Preferably, the material is applied at a rate sufficient to achieve a diffusivity value of about 0 to about 0.2 cm/sec, preferably 0 to about 0.1 cm/sec.
Referring now to
In a preferred embodiment, the clamp mechanism of a diffusivity tester encloses a rectangular area of base web of approximately 4 mm by 15 mm. Accordingly, the test marks 810, 810′ are sized greater than the enclosed area of the clamp. In this embodiment, the reference marks 810, 810′ are sized approximately 5-6 mm wide and extend transversely by at least several inches. The latter could be shortened.
The reference or test marks 810, 810′ are configured to make possible testing for diffusivity, whereas the patch elements 126 themselves are not so configured. The ability to measure the diffusivity values in regions bearing the applied add-on material reduces the need to make test cigarettes and to conduct ignition propensity tests of smoldering cigarettes. Instead, the diffusivity of the test marks 810, 810′ is measured to confirm or deny by correlation that the patch elements 126 in adjacent portions of the base web are at the desired level of diffusivity and therefore possess the desired level of IP performance. Being able to monitor diffusivity values avoids the waste and cost associated with preparing cigarettes and actually conducting ignition propensity tests. As spaced-apart solid bands, the test marks can also be used to optically inspect the base web during printing operations to confirm presence of desired print patterns along the base web during its conversion. To that end, one lane may be used to test for presence of the desired print patterns, while another lane (of test elements) may be used to test for diffusivity values. The test protocol described herein is applicable to various patterns of occlusive elements formed of add-on material, including without limitation rows of occlusive elements comprising longitudinally spaced-apart, transverse bands, patches and various patterns of occlusive elements such as shown and described in U.S. published application no. 2011/0297736, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Suitable optical inspection techniques for determining the presence of occlusive elements may include those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,537, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Other inspection techniques could be employed, including those which utilize wavelengths other than visible.
All of the above-mentioned teachings and the further details which follow contribute to a wrapper 123 which can provide enhanced and more balanced IP performance and SE performance in smoking articles constructed therefrom. Additionally, with the abatement of wrinkling and single-pass operation, the patches 126 can be precisely and more uniformly printed at commercially acceptable printing speeds, which can be monitored during their construction to assure acceptable levels of quality control. Further details of the preferred embodiments are provided in the description which follows.
As used herein, the phrase “leading edge” refers to the edge 146 (see
With reference to
An “anti-wrinkling agent” is a material which abates the tendency of an aqueous starch solution to shrink a base web upon its application and drying. A suitable anti-wrinkling agent may be selected from the group consisting of 1,2 propylene glycol, propylene glycol, and glycerin. Other anti-wrinkling agents can be used in addition to, or in lieu of the preferred materials. For example, other suitable anti-wrinkling agents include polyols, including without limitation, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, glucose, sucrose, isomalt, maltilol, sorbitol, xylitol, and other agents exhibiting comparable functionalities.
For purposes of this disclosure, “layer” refers to a unitary quantity of add-on material applied to a base web from which a wrapper is fabricated. A patch element 126 may be fashioned from one or more layers that may be superimposed on one another; however experience with multi-pass applications has shown a tendency of the base web 140 to wrinkle upon application of an aqueous solution, which confounds proper alignment and registration between applications of the patch pattern, which caused consistency and predictability in a wrapper's IP performance to suffer. Accordingly, it is preferred to apply patch elements 126 in a single-pass gravure operation, and further preferred to include with the single-pass operations measures which abate wrinkling of the base web 140.
For purposes of this disclosure, “longitudinal” refers to the direction along the length of a tobacco rod (e.g., along the axis 134 in
For purposes of this disclosure, “transverse” refers to the direction circumferentially around a tobacco rod 122 (see
For purposes of this disclosure and with reference to
In this specification, the unit of measurement for basis weight, gram(s) per square meter, is abbreviated as “gsm”.
When the phrase “weight percent” is used herein with respect to the starch component of a starch solution, the “weight percent” is the ratio of the weight of the starch to the total weight of the starch solution. Unless noted otherwise, when the phrase “weight percent” is used herein with respect to any component other than the starch component of a starch solution, the “weight percent” is the ratio of the weight of that other component to the weight of the starch component.
For gravure printing applications, the phrase “single pass” as used in the specification is intended to mean printing using a single cylinder. For other application techniques, the phrase “single pass” is intended to mean a process where the entire band or pattern is applied at one time.
The phrases “self-extinguish under free-burn conditions” or “self-extinguishment” as used herein, refer to the extinguishment of a smoldering cigarette without puffing, when such cigarette is subjected or exposed to free-burn conditions.
When the word “about” is used in this specification in connection with a numerical value, it is intended that the associated numerical value include a tolerance of ±10% around the stated numerical value.
The terms and phrases used herein are not to be interpreted with mathematical or geometric precision, rather geometric terminology is to be interpreted as meaning approximating or similar to the geometric terms and concepts. Terms such as “generally” and “substantially” are intended to encompass both precise meanings of the associated terms and concepts as well as to provide reasonable latitude which is consistent with form, function, and/or meaning.
Smoking Article with Improved Wrapper
Referring again to
The tobacco rod has a nominal length “L” measured from the edge 130 of the tipping paper 193 to the lit end 124 of the tobacco rod along a longitudinal axis 134 of smoking article. By way of example, that nominal length may lie in the range of about 50 to about 100 mm
As shown in
Preferably, the transverse dimensions of the wrapper 123 are selected based on the diameter of the finished smoking article (about 5 to about 10 mm) and allowing for overlapping material at a longitudinal seam of about 1 to about 2 mm. For example, allowing for about 2 mm overlapping seams, the wrapper-paper cross-web dimension may be about 27 mm for a smoking article having a circumference of about 24.8 mm
The wrapper includes a base web which typically is permeable to air. Permeability of wrapper is typically identified in CORESTA units. A CORESTA unit measures paper permeability in terms of volumetric flow rate (i.e., cm3/sec) per unit area (i.e., cm2) per unit pressure drop (i.e., cm of water). The base web of conventional wrapper also has well-known basis weights, measured in grams per square meter, abbreviated as “gsm”. The permeability and basis weight for base web of typical smoking article papers commonly used in the industry are set out in the table below:
For purposes of this description, the base web of a preferred wrapper has a permeability of at least about 20 CORESTA units. Most preferably, the wrapper has a permeability greater than about 30 CORESTA, such as common base webs having nominal permeabilities of about 33 and about 46 CORESTA with a basis weight of about 25 gsm. For some applications, the base web may have a permeability of greater than about 60 CORESTA, or greater than about 80 CORESTA, or even higher permeability values, with a basis weight of about 26 gsm or greater.
Depictions of cross sections taken through a patterned paper, such as
Each layer of add-on material may be substantially continuous, may have a uniform or variable thickness, and/or may have a smooth or rough surface.
Thus, schematic descriptions of paper with one or more layers of add-on material are at significant variance with the real world results of applying one or more layers of add-on material to a base web 140. Accordingly, the schematic representations of add-on layers fairly show the process application rates, as might be used as a guide to etch application patch elements of a gravure print cylinder or the like. However, those schematic representations do not accurately represent the actual structure of the finished wrapper prepared by applying one or more layers of add-on material to a base web.
Techniques other than gravure printing may be used to produce the desired patches 126, such a xerographic printing, digital printing, coating or spraying using a template, or any other suitable technique or including a separate step for establishing material-free regions. However, single-pass, gravure printing techniques are preferred.
When using the preferred add-on solutions, base webs and application techniques of the teachings which follow, a printing solution, upon its application to a base web and drying, forms an air-occlusive film on the base web that is effective to locally reduce diffusivity values from a diffusivity level of approximately 2 cm/sec or greater (for the base web in its original condition) to a value in the range of 0.0 to about 0.2 cm/sec, more preferably less than approximately 0.1 cm/sec, as measured by a Sodim CO2 Diffusivity Tester (purchased from Sodim SAS of France). To measure the diffusivity of a piece of paper using a Diffusivity Tester, the paper is positioned within a clamping head so that the paper separates two vertically arranged chambers. The upper chamber contains a carrier gas, such as nitrogen, while the lower chamber contains a marker gas, such as carbon dioxide. As there is no pressure difference between the two chambers, any migration of gases is due to differences in concentrations of the gases, and there is no permeability effect, which occurs when a pressure difference is maintained between two surfaces of the paper. After a predetermined period of time (e.g., for a predetermined time of about 25 seconds or less), the concentration of carbon dioxide within the nitrogen stream of the upper chamber is measured in an analyzer. A computer then converts the detected level of concentration into a measure of diffusivity.
As described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0295854 filed May 23, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference thereto, preferably, a film-forming composition may be used to form the patch elements 126. The film-forming composition comprises water and a high concentration of an occluding agent, e.g., about 14% to about 50% by weight of the water plus the occluding agent. The film-forming compound can include one or more occluding agents such as starch, alginate, cellulose, or gum and may further include calcium carbonate as a filler. Further, the film-forming composition preferably includes an anti-wrinkling agent. Where starch is the film-forming compound, a concentration of about 16% to about 26% may be particularly advantageous, and a concentration of about 21% is presently most preferred.
To improve the ignition propensity characteristics of a smoking article fashioned from the wrapper, the pattern is preferably applied with a printing solution containing an oxidized starch and formed by a process as described herein. Preferred printing characteristics and film-forming characteristics of the add-on material may be achieved using an aqueous oxidized starch solution having a viscosity ranging from about 40 centiPoises (cP) to about 80 cP as measured using a Brookfield RVDV-2 viscometer with a #1 spindle at 20 rotations per minute (rpm) as measured at 120° F., more preferably in the range of about 40 cP to about 60 cP. At the press or at time of printing, the viscosity is adjusted by an addition of hot water and/or heat to achieve a preferred final, print solution having a viscosity of about 16.5 to about 19.5 seconds, as measured by a Zahn #2 cup at 120° F., more preferably about 17 seconds to about 19 seconds. Starch employed for the printing solution preferably may be initially mixed with water to form an aqueous starch mixture having a solids content of about 29% to about 34% (by weight), more preferably about 30% to about 33% (by weight). While various starches may be used, for purposes of this invention it is preferred, without limitation, to use an oxidized starch. Preferred oxidized starches include an oxidized tapioca starch, such as FloMax® 8 available from National Starch, LLC (now Ingredion). The type (e.g. tapioca) and treatment (e.g. oxidation) provides starch components (e.g. amylose and amylopectin) that are in the preferred molecular weight range.
Preferably, the printing solution also includes 1, 2-propylene glycol, in amounts sufficient to abate the tendency of the base web to wrinkle in the course of applying and drying an aqueous starch solution during printing (the “anti-wrinkling” effect of propylene glycol). It is presently understood that this effect is achieved at inclusion levels which result in there being, in the final wrapper, a presence of propylene glycol in the bands at a basis weight level of about 0.2 to 0.5 grams per square meter or more. Further teachings regarding inclusion levels of propylene glycol and other “anti-wrinkling” agents are set forth in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/064,438, “Patterned Wrapper with an Anti-Wrinkling Agent,” filed Mar. 5, 2008, the content of which is incorporated herein by this reference thereto.
A presently preferred solution may comprise at the press (all percentages here being based on the total solution weight): starch—in an amount of about 18 to about 23 wt % (weight-percent), more preferably about 20 to about 22 wt %, and even more preferably about 21 wt % of the total solution weight; propylene glycol—in an amount ranging from about 7 to about 10 wt %, more preferably about 7 to about 9 wt %, and even more preferably about 8 wt % of the total solution weight; calcium carbonate—in an amount in the range of about 9 to about 13 wt %, more preferably about 10 to about 12 wt %, and even more preferably about 11 wt % of the total solution weight; with water essentially comprising the remainder (in an amount ranging from about 55 to about 65 wt %, more preferably about 60 wt %).
It has been further discovered that at preferred inclusion levels, and upon addition of propylene glycol at or near the conclusion of cooking of the aqueous oxidized starch solution, the propylene glycol has additional beneficial effects. Upon its inclusion in a cooked aqueous starch solution, it abates the tendency of the starch components to retrograde or gel, so as to act as a stabilizing agent. It also provides anti-microbial effects in the resulting printing solution. Both of these effects enhance the shelf life of the printing solution. The enhanced shelf life of the printing solution makes it possible to prepare the solution remotely from where printing operations are to occur and to ship the solution. As will be further explained in the teachings which follow, the operational shelf life of the printing solution is further enhanced by maintaining the printing solution in the range of 120 to 150° F., more preferably about 120° F. to about 140° F., during transit and/or at the time of printing. Furthermore, inclusion of propylene glycol in the process as taught herein also has the effect of reducing the printing solution's viscosity to levels which further promote its printability.
Preferably, a conventional filler material, such as calcium carbonate, may be included in the printing solution, as desired, to lighten the printed material to make it less visible on the wrapper and to improve self extinguishment performance of the finished smoking article. Preferably, if included, the calcium carbonate is added to the printing solution just before printing. The calcium carbonate may also help abate wrinkling of the wrapper by reducing the water content in the applied solution. Preferably, the printing solution has a pH in the range of about 4 to about 8, more preferably about 7 to about 8 after calcium carbonate has been added thereto.
Furthermore, the predetermined pattern of printing solution is typically applied to a base web having a permeability in the range of about 10 to about 80 CORESTA units. Preferably, the printing solution forms a film on the base web, when dry, that is effective to locally reduce diffusivity values in the range of 0 to about 0.20 centimeters per second (cm/sec) as measured by a Sodim CO2 Diffusivity Tester (available from Sodim SAS of France, more preferably diffusivity values in the range of 0 to about 0.10 cm/sec.
Various balances or trade-offs need to be made in selection of starch parameters for use in applying films to wrapper. For example, while high molecular weight starch may give rise to effective diffusivity reduction, such high molecular weight starches are of lower solubility, and consequently, must be used in lower concentrations, resulting in a printing solution and with very high water content, which elevates drying requirements and exacerbates the wrinkling of the base web.
In the preferred embodiment, as shown in
After the heating (step 220) and the maintaining (step 230) the temperature of the aqueous oxidized starch solution, the process preferably also includes adding (step 250) propylene glycol to the aqueous oxidized starch solution and mixing (step 260) while holding the temperature substantially constant either at aforementioned, selected temperature, or more preferably, at or about 180° F. If, when adding propylene glycol, it is at room temperature, the temperature of the solution may drop from the aforementioned 195° F. to a temperature of about 180° F. Once the propylene glycol is added (step 250), the aqueous oxidized starch solution is mixed for at least about 30 minutes to thoroughly disperse the propylene glycol throughout the aqueous oxidized starch solution.
Preferably, the aqueous oxidized starch solution is continuously mixed during the heating (step 220), the maintaining (step 230), and after the adding (step 250). Preferably, the propylene glycol is maintained at room temperature or higher before its addition to the aqueous oxidized starch solution. Moreover, the propylene glycol is preferably added as quickly as possible to the aqueous oxidized starch solution. In a batch process, for example, the aqueous oxidized starch mixture can be mixed using low speed, low shear mixing of about 15 rpm in a 1000 gallon tank during the heating (step 220), during the maintaining (step 230), and after the adding propylene glycol to the aqueous oxidized starch solution (step 250). Preferably, the mixing (step 260) is conducted while the solution is at an elevated temperature, preferably at about 180° F. or above.
In an alternative embodiment, the heating (step 220) can be accomplished by use of a jet cooker, which produces cooked starch on a substantially continuous basis “on demand”, where liquid heated to at least about 180° C. is jetted against an impaction surface to break-up granular structures of the starch in the liquid.
Not wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that by maintaining the temperature of the aqueous oxidized starch mixture at or above about 195° F., any remaining starch granules are caused to swell, rupture, and release amylose and/or amylopectin therefrom. By adding propylene glycol thereafter, it is believed that the propylene glycol substantially abates recombination thereof so that the film forming capability/capacity of the starch printing solution is preserved for an extended period of time. Moreover, the propylene glycol stays in solution with the starch to provide a substantially homogenous mixture having a low viscosity of less than about 100 cP, more preferably less than about 60 cP, more preferably about 40 cP to about 60 cP when measured using a Brookfield RVDV-2 viscometer with a #1 spindle at 20 rpm at 120° F.
Moreover, it is believed that the addition of propylene glycol to the aqueous oxidized starch solution provides stability and anti-microbial effects, and therefore, improved shelf-life to the printing solution. These effects are evidenced by the solution pH, which does not change (i.e., is substantially constant) for several days after the printing solution has been prepared.
After addition of propylene glycol (step 250) and the mixing (step 260), the printing solution may be cooled (step 240) to a temperature ranging from about 120° F. to about 140° F. Preferably, the printing solution is maintained at a temperature at about or greater than about 120° F. to avoid agglomeration and viscosity increase. It has been found that as the solution temperature drops below about 100° F., retrogradation accelerates resulting in undesired gelling of the solution. Once the gelling effect begins, the retrograded condition of the solution is irreversible.
At a temperature of about 120° F., the printing solution prior to initiation of printing operations preferably has a viscosity of about 40 cP to about 60 cP as measured using a Brookfield RVDV-2 viscometer with a #1 spindle at 20 rpm at 120° F. Also preferably, at a temperature of about 120° F. the printing solution has a pH of about 4 to about 5. At the press, just prior to initiation of printing operations either an addition of hot water or an increase in temperature (not higher than 150° F.) or both may be used to achieve a desired, final printing viscosity (in the range of about 16.5 to 19.5 sec, more preferably about 17 to 19 sec).
In one embodiment, the printing solution may then be stored in drums/totes and at a temperature of about 120° to about 140° F. until use at the time of printing. The drums/totes can be transported using an insulated blanket or heated truck, as needed, while maintaining the drums at a temperature of at least about 120° F. The drums/totes can also be stored under heated conditions. In the preferred embodiment, the printing solution may also be continuously agitated at low speed during storage. Preferably, the printing solution is used within 72 hours of production. The aforementioned maintenance of temperature, together with the addition of the propylene glycol provide stability to the solution such that a shelf-life of at least 2 or 3 days or longer is achievable.
In the preferred embodiment, the process may also preferably include adding (step 270) calcium carbonate to the printing solution. In the preferred embodiment, about 300 pounds of the printing solution can be mixed with about 40 pounds of water and about 40 pounds of calcium carbonate while mixing for about 15 to about 25 minutes. Preferably, the mixture is mixed using a Neptune impeller at low speed to suspend the calcium carbonate (or chalk) in the mixture, avoid foaming, and form a printing solution. The calcium carbonate is preferably added just before printing so that the calcium carbonate does not settle out of solution.
At the converter/printer, the printing solution can then be pumped to a run drum of a printing press. Preferably, the final printing solution (after addition of water and calcium carbonate) has a pH of about 7 to about 8 and a viscosity of about 20 cP as measured using a Brookfield RVDV-2 viscometer with a #1 spindle at 20 rpm at 120° F.
At the press, the process also includes providing a base web of wrapper (step 280) and applying the printing solution to the base web to form a cigarette wrapper (step 290).
In the preferred embodiment, the printing solution allows for higher starch loading to the base web, uses less water, and the propylene glycol has a greater anti-wrinkling effect due to a higher concentration of propylene glycol with respect to the water content. These features synergistically substantially reduce wrinkling of the base web and reduce the viscosity of the printing solution so as to enhance printability. For example, after application to a 33 CORESTA base web for a 6.8 mm wide solid band, with a 27 mm band period, about 0.9 grams per square meter (g/m2) starch, about 0.4 g/m2 propylene glycol and about 0.4 g/m2 calcium carbonate is deposited on the base web.
The following examples are given to illustrate embodiments of the process described herein and should not be construed to limit the scope of such embodiments.
Oxidized starch and water are mixed at about 75° F. and heated to about 195° F. for about 45 minutes with low agitation (low shear mixing) to form a mixture. Propylene glycol is added thereto while mixing for about 30 more minutes while maintaining the solution at a temperature of at least about 180° F. The solution is cooled to a temperature of about 140° F. while mixing. The solution is then packed and the temperature of the solution is maintained at a temperature ranging from about 120° F. to about 140° F. and transported to a location of a press.
The solution contains about 31% (by weight) starch, about 10% (by weight) propylene glycol and about 59% (by weight) water. At the press or printing operation, about 300 pounds of the solution is then mixed with 40 pounds hot water and about 40 pounds calcium carbonate to form a printing solution having about 21% (by weight) starch, about 8% (by weight) propylene glycol, about 60% (by weight) water and about 11% (by weight) calcium carbonate to form a final, preferred printing solution.
The solution exhibited desired printability and film-forming characteristics.
About 51 pounds water heated to a temperature of about 70° F. to about 80° F. is mixed with about 31 pounds of starch powder, such as FloMax® 8 available from National Starch, LLC (now Ingredion). The water and starch powder are further mixed while heating for about 45 minutes to a temperature of about 200° F. to form an aqueous oxidized starch solution. About 10 pounds of either condensed steam or additional water heated to about 200° F. is added to the aqueous oxidized starch solution. The aqueous oxidized starch solution is tested using an oven bake method and has a solids content of about 31%. The viscosity is tested using a Brookfield RVDV-2 viscometer with a #1 spindle at 20 rpm at 120° F., and the aqueous oxidized starch solution is found to have a viscosity of about 50 cP. The aqueous oxidized starch solution has a pH of about 4 to about 5.
About 8 pounds of propylene glycol are then added to the aqueous oxidized starch solution and is mixed for about 30 minutes at a temperature ranging from about 180° F. to about 200° F. The printing solution is then cooled to a temperature of about 130° F. The viscosity is tested again using a Brookfield RVDV-2 viscometer with a #1 spindle at 20 rpm at 120° F., and the printing solution is found to have a viscosity of about 45 cP. Such evidences the favorable effect of the propylene glycol to reduce viscosity. The printing solution is kept under substantially constant agitation, the intensity of which is dependent upon tank size, dimensions and agitator type. Calcium carbonate is added while mixing to suspend the calcium carbonate and form a printing solution which is maintained at a temperature of about 120° F. to about 130° F. The printing solution contains about 54.5 pounds of water, about 24.5 pounds of pounds starch, about 10.5 pounds calcium carbonate, and about 10.5 pounds propylene glycol; and has a viscosity of about 17.5 sec to about 18.5 sec as measured by a Zahn #2 cup at 120° F.
As an alternative, turbidity of the aqueous oxidized starch and propylene glycol solution can also be measured to identify changes in the aqueous oxidized starch and propylene glycol solution before viscosity changes are noticed using viscosity measurements. Turbidity measures the amount of light transmitted through a given quantity of material, and can thus be used as a quality control tool to determine if the aqueous oxidized starch and propylene glycol solution should be used or discarded prior to mixing with calcium carbonate. Thus, the turbidity measurement can be used to determine the film-forming capability of the aqueous oxidized starch and propylene glycol solution.
In practicing the preferred embodiment of this invention, the step of maintaining the solution temperature in the range of about 120° to about 150° F. provides numerous advantages including, without limitation, permitting high starch content to be attained and maintained in the aqueous solution and lowering the aqueous solution's viscosity. Accordingly, through use of the temperature maintenance step until the printing step, a desired printing solution is achieved, which solution is suitable for a single pass application to a base web.
When propylene glycol is applied as an anti-wrinkling agent in accordance with this specification, the propylene glycol also counteracts the tendency of certain microorganisms to thrive in a starch solution at a temperature in the range of about 120° to about 150° F.
The film-forming composition may be applied to the base web of the wrapper 140 using gravure printing, digital printing, coating or spraying using a template, or any other suitable technique. Because of the intricate dimensions of the material-free regions of the various embodiments, a single-pass gravure printing operation is preferred. However, if desired, the patch elements 126 of add-on material can be formed by printing multiple, successive layers, e.g., two or more successive layers registered or aligned with one another.
For single-pass gravure printing operations, the preferred aqueous starch solution comprises at least 25% starch by weight; between about 20% and about 35% anti-wrinkling agent (preferably propylene glycol), and between about 30% and about 80% chalk (preferably a fine calcium carbonate) (percentages here being based on percent of starch weight). More preferably, the solution may comprise at the press (all percentages here being based on the total solution weight): starch—in an amount of about 18 to about 23 wt % (weight-percent), more preferably about 20 to about 22 wt %, and even more preferably about 21 wt % of the total solution weight; propylene glycol—in an amount ranging from about 7 to about 10 wt %, more preferably about 7 to about 9 wt %, and even more preferably about 8 wt % of the total solution weight; calcium carbonate—in an amount in the range of about 9 to about 13 wt %, more preferably about 10 to about 12 wt %, and even more preferably about 11 wt % of the total solution weight; with water essentially comprising the remainder (in an amount ranging from about 55 to about 65 wt %, more preferably about 60 wt %). Preferably the aqueous starch solution is applied at the press at a temperature between about 120 to 140° F. and is preferably prepared and applied in accordance with those and other teachings of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/324,747, filed Dec. 13, 2011, (Attorney Docket No. 1021238-001292), the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. For multi-pass operations, a preferred aqueous solution may comprise approximately 16% starch, 6% chalk or calcium carbonate, and 6% 1,2 propylene glycol (weight percents of solution).
With inclusion of the chalk in this embodiment as described, one may abate the tendency of the patterned paper cigarettes to self-extinguish, enhance appearance of the product to a consumer and achieve these and other associated advantages.
The inclusion of an anti-wrinkling agent (preferably, such as propylene glycol) in an aqueous starch solution used to make patterned wrapper in a manner consistent with the teaching herein can reduce transverse shrinkage to operationally manageable levels, alleviate pronounced wrinkling and essentially eliminate creasing problems that previously presented themselves. Inclusion of an anti-wrinkling agent has been found to have additional benefits, too. Cracking and flaking at patch elements are believed to be alleviated. In addition, it is believed that the presence of the anti-wrinkling agent appears to cause the starch solution to reside more on the surface of the base web with less penetration into that material, and thus enhance film formation. Shrinkage of the wrapper in the vicinity of patch elements formed from an aqueous starch solution that includes an anti-wrinkling agent has been observed to be in the range of about 0.0625 to 0.125 in. for a 36 in. wide base web—a range which does not result in creasing nor excessive waviness in the base web. Furthermore, inclusion of an anti-wrinkling agent in the aqueous starch solution has been found to make possible the application of add-on material to be applied to the base web in a single application, printing pass, or the like, provided that sufficient drying capability is established with such practices. In addition, the shelf life of the aqueous starch solution is materially improved by the inclusion of an anti-wrinkling agent as disclosed herein.
Cigarette Wrapper with Patch Elements
Referring now to
The manufacture of base web 140 preferably includes the production of a roll of base web of several feet across (usually about 3 to four feet across or in transverse dimension). The base web is then drawn through a printing press or the like and rewound to produce a roll of patterned paper, which is then slit into bobbins. With reference also to
Each pair of rectangular patches (for example, patches 134a and 136a—the latter not being visible in
It is further noted that the portion 133 of base web 140 outside of the patch elements 126 are preferably, essentially free of add-on material. More particularly, the areas between adjacent regions 131a, 131b and the areas between opposing elements within each region (such as between the opposing elements 134b, 136b of the region 131b) are preferably essentially free of add-on material comprising the patch elements (e.g., patch elements 134b, 136b).
The longitudinal distance between adjacent regions (such as between rows 131a, 131b, see
Preferably, the respective patch elements 126 (see
Preferably, four or more patch rows are provided along the nominal length of a tobacco rod. Furthermore, preferably the patches of each patch row 131 are circumferentially offset from the patches of the adjacent patch rows. That offset may be selected such that the patches are offset from one another relative to the axis 134 of the tobacco rod by an angle in the range of about 40° to about 75°, more preferably in the range of about 45° to about 60°, and most preferably about 45°.
Because any particular smoking article 120 might be laid upon a substrate differently from the orientation shown in
Preferably, each patch element 134, 136 includes sufficient add-on material to reduce the diffusivity of the wrapper at each patch element to 0.0 to about 0.2 cm/sec, and more preferably to the range of 0.0 to about 0.1 cm/sec.
As presently understood, the staggered patch rows of add-on material according to this description permit a smoking article 120 (see
To achieve desirable IP and SE characteristics of the smoking article, a pattern 130 (see
Preferably, the pattern is applied to the base web such that a plurality of circumferentially extending rows 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d are disposed at spaced locations along the tobacco rod 122. The add-on material can be applied to one or to both sides of the base web. Preferably, three to six, and most preferably four to six or more, of the rows 131 occur in the nominal length of the tobacco rod 122. More particularly, a row set 139 in a preferred embodiment comprises four rows 131, but could be a fewer or a greater number of rows. Generally, the configuration of patch elements 126 are configured amongst the rows of a given row set 139 such that the occurrence of a snuffer region 301 is assured when the smoking article 122 is placed upon a substrate as previously explained. The occurrence of a complete row set is then assured by making the unit length of a row set 139 (as represented by the designation 139 in
Each of the circumferential rows 131a, 131b, 131c, 131d has a longitudinal pitch or period along the tobacco rod 122 (i.e., length measured along the tobacco rod from the beginning of one row to the beginning of the adjacent row) which is less than the nominal length of the tobacco rod 122. By selecting the longitudinal pitch length or period at about 25% of the nominal length, four rows will be provided on each tobacco rod 122.
Preferably, the pattern corresponding to row sets 139 may repeat itself at least partially along the length of the tobacco rod 122 and it is envisioned to configure the unit length of a row set 139 such that a multiple of row sets may occur along a tobacco rod 122.
When wrapper paper 140 is formed about tobacco to make a tobacco rod 122, patch elements of add-on material at any longitudinal location are preferably spaced about 180 degrees from each other. Moreover, the ratio of the printed area to available surface area (the area of patch elements of a given patch row divided by the circumference of the smoking article times the width of the patch row and the spacing between adjacent patch rows—that ratio here being defined as the “printed area ratio”) is substantially less than one. Preferably, the zone area ratio lies in the range of less than about 20% to less than about 50%, and more preferably in the range of less than about 20% to less than about 35%. More particularly, in some embodiments the zone area ratio for element-occupied area to total area may be less than 30%, and even less that 25%. Generally speaking, it is desirable to keep the zone area coverage ratio low because high values (i.e., closer to 1) are believed to increase carbon monoxide concentration in mainstream smoke.
The patch elements of the pattern 130 may be formed by applying one or more layers of an aqueous film-forming composition to the base web of the wrapper paper to reduce the permeability of the paper in those patch elements. Alternatively, a cellulosic material may also be used to form the patch elements. Where a film-forming composition is used, that film-forming composition preferably may include water and a high concentration of an occluding agent, e.g., 20% to about 50% by weight. The film-forming compound can include one or more occluding agents such as starch, alginate, cellulose or gum and may also include calcium carbonate as a filler. Where starch is the film-forming compound, a concentration of about 21% may be advantageous. The film-forming composition may be applied to the base web of the wrapper paper 123 using gravure printing, digital printing, coating or spraying using a template, or any other suitable technique. For example, the film-forming compounds and methods for applying film-forming compounds described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/500,918, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto, may be chosen for applying a pattern to the base web of the wrapper paper. If desired, the patch elements of add-on material can be formed by printing multiple, successive layers, e.g., two or more successive layers registered or aligned with one another. Furthermore, when layers are used to form the patch elements of add-on material, the material in layers may be the same of different. For example, one layer may be starch while the next layer may be starch and calcium carbonate (or vice versa).
The presently preferred embodiment for the pattern 139 of patch elements of add-on material is illustrated in
The circumferential offset, x, between (i) the patch elements 134a, 136a of the row 131a and (ii) the corresponding patch elements 134b, 136b of the adjacent row 131b preferably lies in the range of about 10% to about 35% of the total, unwrapped cross-measure of the bobbin. More preferably, the circumferential offset, x, lies in the range of about 12% to about 35% of the total, unwrapped cross-measure of the bobbin 140. Most preferably, the circumferential offset, x, is about half the circumferential dimension or cross-measure of the add-on row. The patch elements of add-on material in other rows, 131c, 131d, are likewise further offset circumferentially by the same offset, x, with respect to each other. In an embodiment, each row 131 of a row set 139 may be offset from one another in the range of about 3.5 to about 4 mm in the transverse direction, and in one example, by about 3.375 mm for a row set 139 of four rows 131 and a tobacco rod circumference of about 25 mm
The pattern applied to establish rows 131a-131d is preferably repeated along the length of the base web 140. Clearly, if the circumferential offset, x, is less than 12.5% of the cross-directional width of the bobbin, more than four rows will define a complete cycle or phase length or pitch for the pattern 130. Conversely, if the circumferential offset, x, is greater than 12.5%, less than four rows will define a complete cycle for the pattern 139 (as in the case of the
Three different positions of the smoking article 120 resting on substrate 198 are illustrative of the cooperation which occurs between the patch elements of low permeability add-on material and the substrate 198. One position (see
Orientation of the patch elements of add-on material at other longitudinal locations along the smoking article 120 are shown in
When the smoking article 120 exists in free-burn condition (see
However, when the smoking article is placed on the substrate 198 such that one of the add-on patch elements contacts the substrate 198, substantially as shown in
In the foregoing example, the reduction in IP value, reduction in SE value, and improved free-burn quality of a smoking article 120 having a wrapping paper with pattern 139 formed thereon is discussed in relation to a situation where the smoking article happens to be placed on a substrate 198 at one of three specific orientations, the orientations being spaced (off-set) 45° apart from each other. Naturally, the discussion proceeded in this manner for the sake of brevity. It will be readily understood that a pattern according to this description can extinguish the smoking article, regardless of which side portion rests against a substrate 198 and without a need for applying film-forming compound to the paper to such an extent that a desirable free-burn quality in the smoking article is lost. This may be understood by recognizing that opposing patch elements of film-forming compound need not appear at locations exactly 90 degrees from the side portion in contact with the substrate 198. Those patch elements may be centered at a location that is closer to or farther from the side portion in contact with the substrate 198, for example, between about 60° and 120° from the side portion in contact with the substrate 198. It is also contemplated that more than two patch elements 126 may comprise each row 131 of patches about a circumference of a smoking article 120.
Additionally, for a particular chosen pattern, the ability to extinguish the smoking article may depend more on providing minimum lengthwise extent of add-on material (e.g., a film-forming compound), rather than a particular weight per area of film-forming compound at longitudinal locations. The length of a rectangular patch element or patch, for example, may be no less than about 7 mm for a particular design, base web, and film-forming compound used. The amount of film-forming compound used may be increased to improve IP performance, usually without losing a free-burn quality, and if desired, a burn accelerator may be applied to the paper to support even higher add-on levels.
Preferably, the patches of add-on material reduce diffusivity of the wrapper paper to the range of from about 0 to about 0.2 cm/sec, and more preferably to the range of from about 0 to about 0.1 cm/sec.
Accordingly it is seen that the spirally rotated position of the opposed patch elements of add-on material creates a situation where, regardless of which side portion of the wrapper paper is placed against the substrate 198, there will always be at least one longitudinal location along the tobacco rod having patch elements disposed along opposite sides of the tobacco rod, not in contact with the substrate 198 yet having a sufficient geometry and add-on material to extinguish a smoldering smoking article when left unattended on the substrate 198. The arrangement permits a smoking article to be designed with an IP value no greater than 25% or less. In that each row 131 of patches includes uncoated areas between patch elements 126, the smoking article has a significantly improved SE performance during free burn. The arrangement enables a smoking article to be designed with an SE value of less than 50% and may be less than 25%.
In the embodiments described above, the smoking article has a generally circular cross section. Therefore, it is possible for any side portion of the smoking article to rest against the substrate 198. However, a pattern as taught herein can be such that the burn characteristics described above (IP values no greater than 25% and SE values no greater than 50%) in relation to
If desired, the patch elements of add-on material may also comprise other geometric shapes other than quadrilaterals including, for example, ovals, other polygons, or the like.
The patch elements 126 of add-on material may be applied to the base web 140 preferably by a printing technique. While one or more printing technique (selected from the group consisting of direct printing, offset printing, inkjet printing, gravure printing, and the like) may be used to apply the patch element 126, preferably a gravure printing process will be used. Gravure printing provides ample control over deposition rates, deposition patterns, and the like, and is suitable for high-speed printing on the base web 140. For purposes of this disclosure, “high-speed” printing refers to printing processes where the base web 140 advances through the printing process at a linear speed greater than about 300 feet/min. For cigarette manufacturing purposes, base web printing speeds greater than 450 feet/min are preferred, and speeds greater than 500 feet/minute or more are even more preferred. In this regard, the rates of deposition for add-on material, as well as the quality of the pattern of deposited add-on material, can vary considerably when wrapper prepared by high-speed printing processes is compared with wrapper prepared by low-speed printing processes. Higher-speed printing operations can achieve production of wrappers capable of providing both desirable IP values (performance) and desired SE values (performance).
Remarkably, it has been found that a base web may be converted (printed) to include patch elements in accordance with the embodiment described with reference to
This disclosure contemplates that various anti-wrinkling agents are suitable to attain the desired characteristics described herein. In particular, the anti-wrinkling agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, and 1,2 propylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a preferred member of the anti-wrinkling agent group, however, 1,2 propylene glycol is the most preferred member of the anti-wrinkling agent group.
Patch elements 126 of this disclosure preferably comprise an aqueous solution containing starch, chalk or CaCO3, and an anti-wrinkling agent. While many types of starch are contemplated, tapioca starch is presently preferred for the starch component of the layers of add-on material. A suitable commercially available starch is FLO-MAX8® available from National Starch, LLC (now Ingredion).
Many types of calcium carbonate particles are contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Presently, however, calcium carbonate available from Solvay Chemicals, Inc., as SOCAL 31 is a suitable commercially available calcium carbonate. SOCAL 31 is an ultrafine, precipitated form of calcium carbonate having an average particle size of about 70 nm (nanometers). Larger particles of calcium carbonate have been observed to not function as well in this application when compared to the ultrafine, precipitated form of calcium carbonate, due at least in part to the tendency of larger particles to precipitate from solution more quickly and due at least in part to the need for greater quantities to attain the beneficial characteristics discussed herein.
The film-forming compound can include one or more occluding agents such as starch, alginate, cellulose or gum and may also include calcium carbonate as a filler. Where starch is the film-forming compound, a concentration of about 21% may be advantageous. The film-forming composition may be applied to the base web of the wrapper using gravure printing, digital printing, coating or spraying using a template, or any other suitable technique.
Uncoated areas of the base web preferably do not comprise and are essentially free of any permeability reducing add-on material.
The manufacture of base web 140 usually will include the production of a roll of base web of several feet across (usually about 3 feet across or in transverse dimension). The base web is then drawn through a printing press or the like and rewound to produce a roll of patterned paper, which is then slit into bobbins. Printing operations are preferably conducted on the rolls, but could be conducted after slitting. Preferably, the bobbins themselves will have a transverse dimension equivalent to the width needed to make tobacco rods 122 or an integral number of such widths (e.g., 1, 2, or 4 of such widths). The bobbins are adapted for use with typical cigarette making machinery. The wrapper preferably has a dimension in cross-direction that takes into account the nominal circumference of the tobacco rod and an overlapping seam. As a result, when the wrapper is slit, the smoking article formed therefrom always has a longitudinal seam with an exact overlap.
The base web advances or passes through a first gravure printing station where the first layer of each patch element is printed on the paper. The printing process may be applied to the “felt side” or the “wire side” of the base web, or both.
When an aqueous starch solution is being used as the add-on materials, its preparation for application before and at the printing press is preferably such that the add-on solution is maintained at or about 120° F. to about 140° F., as taught in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/324,747, filed Dec. 13, 2011.
Two illustrative examples for the geometric characteristics of the patch element have been found to be desirable. In a first arrangement, the patch elements may have a longitudinal length of about 7 mm, a circumferential dimension of about 8.25 mm. In a second arrangement, the patch elements may have a longitudinal length of about 8 mm, and a circumferential dimension of about 8.25 mm
Referring now to
The impression cylinder 612 is mounted for counter-rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of the printing cylinder (or gravure roller) 610. In some applications, the impression cylinder includes a nonmetallic resilient surface. The impression cylinder is positioned between the roller and an optional backing roller 614, which is also mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of gravure the roller 610 and which counter-rotates relative to the impression cylinder. One of the functions provided by the optional backing roller 614 is stiffening the central portions of the impression cylinder so that the uniform printing pressure is obtained between the gravure roller 610 and the impression cylinder 612. The gravure roller 610 and the impression cylinder 612 cooperate to define a nip 616 through which the base web is drawn during the printing process. The nip 616 is sized to pinch the base web as it moves between the gravure cylinder 610 and the impression cylinder 612. The nip pressure 612 on the base web ensures the correct transfer of the add-on material from the gravure roller 610 to the paper base web 140.
In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir 628 contains the occlusive composition (add-on material), preferably an aqueous starch solution as discussed above for forming patch elements 126 on the base web 140. The reservoir communicates with a suitable pump 610 which is capable of handling the viscous occlusive composition. The occlusive composition may then flow to a suitable heat exchanger 622 where the temperature of the occlusive composition is elevated so that it lies in the range of about 40° to about 90° C. (about 120° F. to about 140° F.) so that the viscosity of the occlusive composition is adjusted to a level which is suitable for gravure printing and for maintain desired conditions of the starch solution. As discussed above, gravure printing usually requires a viscosity of less than about 200 cP. Preferably, the temperature of the occlusive composition is selected so that the viscosity is less than about 100 cP. For example, the occlusive composition may have a viscosity of about 10-40 cP at about 120° F.
While a separate heat exchanger 622 is disclosed, it may be desirable to provide thermal conditioning of the occlusive composition in the reservoir 618 itself. For example, heating elements and stirring apparatus may be included in the reservoir 618 to maintain the elevated temperature for the occlusive composition. Placement of the thermal conditioning in the reservoir has the advantage of making pump selection and operating requirements simpler since the pump need not handle the occlusive composition at the higher viscosity associated with lower temperatures because the occlusive composition would already be heated and, therefore, at the lower viscosity. Whether thermal conditioning occurs in the reservoir or in a separate heat exchanger, it is important that the thermal conditioning step occur at a controlled temperature selected to avoid scorching the occlusive composition. Scorching can cause discoloration of the occlusive composition, and can affect the occlusive characteristics of the composition.
Additionally, it is important to maintain an aqueous starch solution at or about the range of about 120° F. to 140° F. prior to and during printing operations. Aqueous starch solutions tend to degrade irreversibly if allowed to drop below those temperatures.
Regardless of where the thermal conditioning step occurs, the heated occlusive composition is preferably delivered to a suitable applicator 624 that spreads the occlusive composition across the width of the gravure cylinder. That spreading step may be effected by pouring or spraying the occlusive composition onto the gravure cylinder, or by delivering the liquid occlusive composition to a collector 627 to establish a bath 626 of occlusive composition in contact with a lower portion of the gravure cylinder 610. The gravure cylinder 610 may be heated to prevent premature cooling of the composition.
Generally, the collector 627 extends partially about the gravure roller to a height sufficient to collect the bath, but to a height well below the top of the gravure cylinder 610. When the bath reaches the top of the collector, occlusive composition can flow through a drain 628 at the bottom of the apparatus back into the reservoir. Thus, the occlusive composition circulates through the printing station and can be maintained at suitable printing viscosity by the thermal conditioning apparatus discussed above.
Referring now to
Preferably, the circumference of the roller is determined such that it is an integer multiple of the sum of the nominal distance between patch elements plus the patch element width. Thus, for each revolution of the roller, that predetermined integer number of patch elements is printed on the base web 140.
Printing consistency and efficiency is further enhanced by elevating nip-pressure at the press. In a preferred embodiment, a nip pressure was increased by approximately 10 to 15%, e.g., from the normally applied pressure for the genre of printing operation.
In the preferred embodiment, as shown in
The etched regions 611, 611′ (
With the chevrons (
Still referring to
In a first example of a preferred embodiment, bobbins of 33 CORESTA patch wrapper were constructed with each patch element 126 being approximately 8 mm in width and approximately 8.25 mm in cross measure, with an approximately 8.45 mm band spacing (between adjacent rows 131) and an approximately 5.25 mm circumferential spacing or gap (corresponding to designation 166 in
In a second example of a preferred embodiment, bobbins of 33 CORESTA patch wrapper were constructed with each patch element 126 being approximately 7 mm in width and approximately 8.25 mm in cross measure, with an approximately 9.45 mm band spacing (between adjacent rows 131) and an approximately 5.25 mm circumferential spacing or gap (corresponding to designation 166 in
It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that this specification describes a new, useful, and nonobvious smoking article. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications, variations, substitutes, and equivalents exist for various aspects of the smoking article that have been described in the detailed description above. Accordingly, it is expressly intended that all such modifications, variations, substitutions, and equivalents that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims, be embraced thereby.
This application is a divisional of pending application Ser. No. 15/421,788, filed Feb. 1, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 13/896,068 filed May 16, 2013 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional Application No. 61/647,898 filed on May 16, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/324,747 filed Dec. 13, 2011 which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional Application No. 61/422,525 filed on Dec. 13, 2010, the entire contents of each of which is incorporated herein by reference. A measure of the tendency of a smoking article to cause ignition when left placed upon a substrate is the Ignition Propensity value. An Ignition Propensity value, or IP value, of a smoking article should preferably be no greater than about 25%. More preferably, the IP value should be no greater than about 20%; and even more preferably no greater than about 10%. Ignition Propensity or IP is a standard test conducted as set forth in ASTM E 2187-04, “Standard Test Method for Measuring the Ignition Strength of Smoking articles”, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto. Ignition propensity measures the probability that a smoking article, when smoldering and placed on a substrate, will generate sufficient heat to maintain smoldering of the tobacco rod. Low values for IP are desirable as such values correlate with a reduced likelihood that a smoldering smoking article, when inadvertently left unattended upon a substrate, will cause combustion in the substrate. Smoking articles exhibiting reduced IP values typically also tend to self-extinguish between puffs during smoldering, which is contrary to adult consumer expectations. Adult consumers do not like having to re-light a cigarette during their smoking experience. A measure of the tendency for a smoking article to self-extinguish during free burn has been developed and is known as the Self-Extinguishment value. The Self-Extinguishment value or SE value has been found to be a useful indicia of the likelihood of a smoking article to self-extinguish between puffs during smoking. The Self-Extinguishment Average value for a smoking article should preferably be no greater than about 80% and/or the Self-Extinguishment at 0° value (0° indicating that the cigarette is smoldering in horizontal orientation) should be no greater than about 50%, and more preferably no greater than about 25%. Self-Extinguishment or SE herein is a reference to smoldering characteristics of a smoking article under free burn conditions (away from any substrate). To evaluate SE, a laboratory test is conducted at a temperature of 23° C.±3° C. and relative humidity of 55%±5%, both of which should be monitored by a recording hygrothermograph. Exhaust hood(s) remove combustion products formed during testing. Prior to testing, smoking articles to be tested are conditioned at 55%±5% relative humidity and 23° C.±3° C. for at least 24 hours. To facilitate conditioning, the smoking articles are placed in glass beakers to assure free air access. SE testing takes place within an enclosure or test box. A single port smoking machine or an electric lighter is used to ignite the smoking articles for the test. During testing, an apparatus or “angle holder” holds the smoking articles to be tested by holding an end at angles of 0° (horizontal), 45°, and/or 90° (vertical). Preferably, twenty (20) smoking articles are tested at each of the 0°, 45°, and 90° positions. If more than one apparatus is used, the apparatuses are preferably positioned such that the smoking articles face away from each other to avoid cross interference. If a smoking article goes out before the front line of the smoldering coal reaches the tipping paper, the outcome is scored as “self-extinguishment”; on the other hand, if the smoking article continues smoldering until the front line of the smoldering coal reaches the tipping paper, then the outcome is scored as “non-extinguishment”. Thus, for example, an SE value of 95% indicates that 95% of the smoking articles tested exhibited self-extinguishment under the free burn conditions; while an SE value of 20% indicates that only 20% of the smoking articles tested exhibited self-extinguishment under such free burn conditions. The SE value may be referred to in terms of “Self-Extinguishment at 0° value”, “Self-Extinguishment at 45° value”, or “Self-Extinguishment at 90° value”, each of which refers to the value of SE at the specified tested angle. In addition, the SE value may be referred to in terms of “Self-Extinguishment Average value”, which refers to an average of the three angular positions namely, an average of (i) the “Self-Extinguishment at 0° value” (level, or horizontal orientation), (ii) the “Self-Extinguishment at 45° value”, and (iii) the “Self-Extinguishment at 90° value” (vertical orientation). A reference to “Self-Extinguishment value” or “SE value” does not distinguish between SE at 0°, SE at 45°, SE at 90°, or SE average values and may refer to any one of them. As noted above, it is desirable to achieve IP performance with a patterned paper that meets and exceeds governmental requirements. As previously noted, achievement of a desired IP performance often adversely impacts the SE performance of the smoking article. Stated differently, while an IP performance of a smoking article may meet or exceed the governmental requirement (i.e., it has a 0% IP value), that level of IP performance typically results in a smoking article that will self-extinguish when the cigarette smolders away from any substrate (i.e., it has an SE value of 100%). Improvement of SE performance while maintaining requisite IP performance constitutes a highly desirable feature for cigarette wrappers and smoking articles constructed from them. Applicants have discovered arrangements of the patch elements on wrapper that provide such improved SE performance while maintaining the desired or requisite IP performance.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61647898 | May 2012 | US | |
| 61422525 | Dec 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15421788 | Feb 2017 | US |
| Child | 18322878 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13896068 | May 2013 | US |
| Child | 15421788 | US | |
| Parent | 13324747 | Dec 2011 | US |
| Child | 13896068 | US |
