APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR FORMING A FILTER COMPONENT OF A SMOKING ARTICLE

• US 20110180084A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Original Assignee: R J Reynolds Tobacco Company (R. J. Reynolds Tobacco)
• Inventors: Oglesby, Robert L., Potter, Dennis L., Sebastian, Andries D.
• Application Number:
  US12/694,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20110180084A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 131/284
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/0208 Cutting filter materials
• CPC Class Codes: A24D 3/068 Biodegradable or disintegrable

Abstract

An apparatus and associated method are provided for forming a rod member for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements. A fibrillation unit is configured to fibrillate a sheet material having one of a biodegradability-enhancing substance and a compostability-enhancing substance associated therewith. A rod-forming unit is operably engaged with the fibrillation unit and is configured to form the fibrillated sheet material into a continuous filter rod member.

Claims

1. An apparatus for forming a rod member for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, the rod member defining a longitudinal axis, the apparatus comprising:

a fibrillation unit configured to fibrillate a sheet material having one of a biodegradability-enhancing substance and a compostability-enhancing substance associated therewith; and

a rod-forming unit operably engaged with the fibrillation unit and configured to form the fibrillated sheet material into a continuous filter rod member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rod-dividing unit configured to subdivide the continuous filter rod member, at selected intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof, into a plurality of filter rod portions each having a portion of the fibrillated sheet material therein.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an applicator unit configured to apply a material layer to the sheet material prior to the fibrillation unit fibrillating the sheet material.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applicator unit is configured to apply a plurality of successive layers to the sheet material prior to the fibrillation unit fibrillating the sheet material.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fibrillating unit is configured to fibrillate the sheet material to form a plurality of fibrous elements, the fibrous elements being at least partially interconnected.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a crimping unit configured to crimp the sheet material prior to the fibrillation unit fibrillating the sheet material.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an embossing unit configured to emboss the sheet material prior to the fibrillation unit fibrillating the sheet material.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an applicator unit configured to apply at least one material layer to the sheet material as one of a coating, a co-extrusion, and a laminate, prior to the fibrillation unit fibrillating the sheet material.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fibrillation unit is further configured to fibrillate a sheet material comprising cellulose acetate.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rod forming unit is further configured to gather the fibrillated sheet material into a cylindrical composite prior to forming the continuous filter rod member.

11. A method of forming a rod member for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements, the rod member defining a longitudinal axis, the method comprising:

fibrillating a sheet material with a fibrillation unit, the sheet material having one of a biodegradability-enhancing substance and a compostability-enhancing substance associated therewith; and

forming the fibrillated sheet material into a continuous filter rod member with a rod-forming unit operably engaged with the fibrillation unit.

12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising subdividing the continuous filter rod member, at selected intervals along the longitudinal axis thereof, into a plurality of filter rod portions each having a portion of the fibrillated sheet material therein with a rod-dividing unit.

13. A method according to claim 11, further comprising applying a material layer to the sheet material, prior to fibrillating the sheet material, with an applicator unit.

14. A method according to claim 11, further comprising applying a plurality of successive layers to the sheet material, prior to fibrillating the sheet material, with an applicator unit.

15. A method according to claim 11, wherein fibrillating a sheet material further comprises fibrillating the sheet material to form a plurality of fibrous elements, the fibrous elements being at least partially interconnected.

16. A method according to claim 11, further comprising crimping the sheet material, prior to fibrillating the sheet material, with a crimping unit.

17. A method according to claim 11, further comprising embossing the sheet material, prior to fibrillating the sheet material, with an embossing unit.

18. A method according to claim 11, further comprising applying at least one material layer to the sheet material, with an applicator unit, as one of a coating, a co-extrusion, and a laminate, prior to fibrillating the sheet material.

19. A method according to claim 11, wherein fibrillating a sheet material further comprises fibrillating a sheet material comprising cellulose acetate.

20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising gathering the fibrillated sheet material into a cylindrical composite prior to forming the continuous filter rod member.