METHOD FOR MAKING A SMOKING ARTICLE WRAPPER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of producing a smoking article wrapper and a smoking article wrapper obtainable by the method.

[0002] There have been attempts to design smoking articles that extinguish when inadvertently left unattended on a substrate. A "low ignition propensity" smoking article is one that has been designed to be less likely than a conventional cigarette to ignite soft furnishings such as a couch or mattress. Ideally, a low ignition propensity smoking article will continue to burn when freely suspended such as in the holder of an ashtray or when being held in the hand without puffing ("free burn"). The tendency for a cigarette to go out during free burn is referred to as "self extinguishment".

[0003] Attempts have been made in the art to produce a smoking article with reduced ignition propensity by designing a smoking article wrapper with rings of reduced porosity and/or reduced diffusion of oxygen. The rings are applied to the wrapper by a printing an additive or combination of additives as transverse bands on to a "jumbo" roll of a preformed cigarette wrapper. Typically, the additive is applied with an aqueous or non-aqueous liquid carrier which evaporates from the wrapper once the additive has been delivered.

[0004] It is necessary to apply the additives in sufficient quantities in order to achieve the required reduction in porosity and/or oxygen diffusion. However, there are limitations to the amount of additive that may be present in the carrier system such that generally the required additive loading on to the wrapper is achieved by over-wetting the wrapper with the carrier system comprising the additive.

[0005] The physical parameters of the wrapper, such as tensile strength, burst strength, elongation and stretch, need to be preserved in order for the wrapper to maintain its integrity when transported through the printing process. However, over wetting of the wrapper by the addition of carrier liquids during the printing process has a detrimental effect on the physical properties of the wrapper, for example, by reducing its tensile strength which in turn causes breakages within its structure. As a result, the printing process needs to be stopped from time to time when the paper breaks in order to repair or replace the wrapper which is time consuming and expensive.

[0006] Furthermore, the use of liquid carrier systems can be detrimental to the visual finish of the wrapper and hence the finished smoking article. For example, wetting a cigarette wrapper can lead to "cockling", an effect whereby the surface of the wrapper undergoes a cycle of expansion and contraction due to uptake and removal of carrier liquid causing it to become uneven or wrinkled.

[0007] The expansion/contraction cycles may also cause the wrapper to shrink during the printing process. Shrinking in the cross direction can lead to difficulties in alignment, for example during the subsequent slitting process, resulting in unacceptable wrapper quality.

[0008] Typically the construction of a smoking article involves a longitudinal overlap seam comprising two layers of wrapper held together by an adhesive. Due to the make up of this overlap seam, the addition of an additive to this region does not significantly reduce the permeability or oxygen diffusibility and hence does not significantly alter ignition propensity characteristics of the cigarette.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the problems associated with the prior art methods. In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provide a method of producing a wrapper for a smoking article with acceptable self-extinguishment and low ignition propensity characteristics, but during such process the physical integrity of the wrapper is maintained and the final smoking article is visually acceptable.

[0010] US5450863 discloses a method of applying an additive onto selected regions of a surface of a base web of a wrapper via an adhesive layer.

[0011] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method of producing a wrapper for a smoking article comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a wrapper;

(b) applying one or more additives in a liquid carrier to the surface of the wrapper to impregnate the wrapper and transport the additive(s) into the wrapper matrix to form regions of applied additive having reduced porosity and/or reduced oxygen diffusion sufficient to reduce the ignition propensity of a smoking article and regions having substantially reduced or zero additive

(c) drying the wrapper to evaporate the liquid carrier and to leave the additives set into the wrapper matrix such that the wrapper maintains its physical integrity during processing and has improved visual appearance by reduced wrinkling, wherein the regions of the wrapper with substantially reduced or zero additive form the overlap area along its gluing seam when incorporated in to the smoking article; and

(d) machining the wrapper to form a finished wrapper which upon incorporation in to the smoking article forms patterns of additive around the circumference of the smoking article but which has substantially reduced or zero additive at the area where the wrapper overlaps along its gluing seam, wherein the step of applying one or more additives to the wrapper causes the additive to be pulled into the wrapper matrix such that it does not settle on the wrapper surface.

[0012] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a wrapper for a smoking article comprising regions of one or more additives applied to its surface and following a drying step allowed to become impregnated in the wrapper matrix which regions have reduced porosity and/or reduced oxygen diffusion sufficient to reduce the ignition propensity of the smoking article and regions having substantially reduced or zero additive such that the wrapper maintains its physical integrity during processing and has improved visual appearance by reduced wrinkling, wherein the regions of the wrapper with substantially reduced or zero additive are positioned such that they form the overlap area along its gluing seam when incorporated into the smoking article.

[0013] In a third aspect the present invention provides a smoking article comprising a wrapper obtainable by a process of the present invention. The term "wrapper for a smoking article" is to be understood in a broad sense. A typical example is a cigarette paper. Another example is a tobacco roll wrapper. Further examples include a cigar having a wrapper, a cigarillo and a fine-cut tobacco unit wrapper.

[0014] The term "machine direction" is understood to mean in the machine direction through which the wrapper passes during the processing steps including unwinding, application of additive, slitting and formation of the smoking article.

[0015] The term "cross direction" is understood to mean perpendicular to the machine direction through which the wrapper passes during application of additive.

[0016] The term "substantially reduced" in relation to regions of additive means that such areas have generally less additive than those areas which have reduced porosity and/or reduced oxygen diffusion. Such regions of "substantially reduced" additive typically have 50% less additive, preferably 80% and even more preferably 90% less additive, than the areas which have reduced porosity and/ore reduced oxygen diffusion.

[0017] The term "pattern" is understood to mean the configuration which the regions of additive form around the circumference of the smoking article when the wrapper is machined to form a smoking article. The pattern is generally a ring configuration. The ring configuration may be formed by two or more discontinuous areas of applied additive, or by a continuous region of applied additive which is not applied at the gluing seam. The areas of applied additive may be in a zig-zag conformation generally configured in the shape of a ring when the wrapper is formed in to the smoking article.

[0018] The wrapper may be supplied from a storage roll, a so called jumbo-roll. The wrapper supplied from the storage roll may have a width of up to a few meters. The width of the wrapper is determined by its manufacturing process and is generally trimmed to the desired wrapper width before incorporation into the wrapper manufacturing process. The width of each individual wrapper may be 26.75mm which corresponds to the circumference of a typical cigarette plus the width of the gluing seam of the wrapper. More preferably the jumbo roll may have a width of one or more multiples of the standard 26.75mm width plus edge trimmings the dimension of which varies dependent upon the original supplied material. Such a jumbo roll may be cut after the additive is applied to the required dimensions for incorporation in to the smoking article.

[0019] Typically the construction of a smoking article involves a longitudinal overlap seam comprising two layers of wrapper held together by an adhesive. Typically this overlap region can vary from 1.5mm to 3mm wide and for standard size cigarettes the overlap region is approximately 2mm wide.

[0020] The method of the present invention may be applied to the manufacture of individual smoking papers. Such smoking papers are used by consumers who make ("roll") their cigarettes from a supply of tobacco and individual rolling papers provided in a booklet containing folded and interleaved rolling paper sheets.

[0021] The method of the present invention may be used in a smoking article rod making machine during the manufacture of smoking article rods. Generally, existing commercial smoking rod making machines may be equipped with the necessary means to carry out the present invention.

[0022] The additive may be applied to the wrapper by any printing method typically used in the field. Preferably, gravure printing is used which allows for a much higher level of printing quality and for large block areas of colour/additive to be uniformly applied. Gravure printing may be used on line in the printing process.

[0023] The additive is applied to the wrapper at a print station within a printing machine. The additive is applied as a series of discontinuous lines in the cross direction to form areas of applied additive and areas of substantially reduced or zero additive. These areas of substantially reduced or zero additive in the cross direction correspond to the areas of the wrapper which form the overlap region at the gluing seam when the wrapper is incorporated in to the smoking article.

[0024] The complete pattern of additive can be applied at a single print station or applied at two or more print stations within a single printing machine. Alternatively, multiple pass printing may be used. Preferably, the surface pattern of the wrapper is formed by single pass through the printing machine whereby multiple print stations each produce a subset of the overall printing pattern in the machine direction. Such use of multiple printing stations in a single pass provides the further benefit of minimising the area of the base wrapper onto which the additive is printed and hence minimises the area where the physical properties of the base wrapper are reduced at any given time in the printing process.

[0025] Where multiple print stations are used, each station applies additive to only part of the base wrapper with the sum of the applications from the individual print station equalling the complete pattern of additive over the base wrapper. In the single pass embodiment, where multiple print stations are used each print station is spaced apart along the machine direction of the wrapper such that the physical properties of the wrapper may be sufficiently restored after passing through one print station and drying station before further additive is applied to the wrapper. Thus, during the entire printing process the average physical properties of the wrapper are maintained to enable effective and efficient processing.

[0026] Typically the additive is applied to the wrapper as two or more discontinuous lines such that the applied regions of additive from adjacent discontinuous lines are arranged in columns across the machine direction of the wrapper and spaced apart with regions of substantially reduced or zero additive. Substantially reduced of zero additive is applied in the region of the wrapper which forms the overlap along its gluing seam when incorporated in to the smoking article. In the cross direction the regions of applied additive may be aligned across the width of the wrapper. In an alternative embodiment, the applied regions of additive may be offset from adjacent applied regions of additive to form a staggered pattern. The extent of this offset between adjacent applied regions of additive and in totality can be further optimised to maximise the residual physical properties of the wrapper.

[0027] Preferably, each individual region of applied additive may be offset at an angle perpendicular to the machine direction of the jumbo roll. Preferably the regions of print additive may be offset at an angle of up to 15° from perpendicular to the machine direction. More preferably the angle of offset is up to 10° and most preferably it is 5°. This can be beneficial in improving the durability of print rollers used in the print stations. When direct Gravure printing is used excess liquid carrier may be removed from the surface the printing roller by means of a doctor blade, running essentially perpendicular to the machine direction. Cross direction printing patterns typically used to produce wrapper having leading and trailing edges coincident with the doctor blade. The pressure exerted by the doctor blade effectively reduces cylinder life. One benefit of such an offset is that the leading edge of the printing pattern does not coincide with the leading edge of a doctor blade used in typical printing stations thereby reducing wear on the blade and reducing the chance of tearing of the wrapper as it passes through and from the doctor blade. A further benefit is that the transfer of additive within a region of printing typical in the art is made more efficient by the use of such an offset. The angle and direction of offset may be varied between discrete regions of printing or be consistent throughout the total printing pattern.

[0028] In the cross direction of the paper, the regions of applied additive typically have a width corresponding to width of the final wrapper used to produce the smoking article or multiples thereof less the regions of the wrapper which form the overlap at the gluing seam when the wrapper is incorporated into the smoking article. Therefore when the jumbo wrapper is machined down to widths typically employed in the manufacture of smoking articles, the regions of applied additive from continuous transverse sections across this width minus any overlap region at the edges. Hence when the wrapper is formed into the cigarette the additive region forms a ring around the circumference of the smoking article but not at the gluing seam of the wrapper. Hence the region of the final wrapper used to form the overlap in the smoking article is left essentially unprinted or printed at substantially reduced levels. The width of these regions of reduced additive are typically up to a maximum of twice the overlap width of the wrapper incorporated in to the final smoking article. The overlap seam in a smoking article typically comprises two layers of the wrapper held together by an adhesive; the addition of an additive to this overlap region does not significantly reduce the permeability or oxygen diffusibility and hence does not significantly alter ignition propensity characteristics of the cigarette.

[0029] In the machine direction of the paper the regions of applied additive are generally from 4 to 12mm wide. Preferably the regions of applied additive are 5-10mm wide, and most preferably 6-9mm wide Preferably, the regions of reduced additive in the machine direction are generally less than 30 mm wide, more preferably from 10 to 30mm wide. Most preferably the regions of reduced additive are 18-20 mm wide.

[0030] Using a printing pattern which results in regions of substantially reduced or zero additive in the cross direction that coincide with the overlap region means that the overall pattern on the jumbo has continuous zones of reduced or zero additive across its entire surface in both the machine and cross directions. As these areas have little carrier liquid applied to them, the physical properties remain similar to the original jumbo roll wrapper. Thus the final printed wrapper may be considered as a continuous mesh of unprinted wrapper with isolated regions of additive. While the physical properties of the printed regions may be reduced, overall the wrapper retains its integrity through the residual mesh of unprinted wrapper.

[0031] In addition, the discontinuous nature of the printed areas and not applying additive to the overlap area causes the linear propagation of any tears within the paper to be hindered. Furthermore by minimising the extent of the printed areas, the expansion/contraction cycle of the base wrapper during the printing process can be better controlled and thereby the undesirable appearance of cockling and other visual defects can be reduced. In a similar manner the extent of the overall shrinkage of the jumbo in the cross direction can be minimised thereby reducing alignment difficulties in subsequent stages, for example slitting.

[0032] The additives applied to the wrapper may be applied with a liquid carrier. Preferably the liquid carrier is in the form of a solution, suspension, emulsion or combination thereof. Preferably the liquid carrier is aqueous, non-aqueous or a combination thereof and may contain an emulsifying agent depending on the nature of the additives.

[0033] In one embodiment, a suspension of additive may be applied within an aqueous carrier. The aqueous carrier penetrates the wrapper transporting the additive into the matrix of the wrapper. Once the carrier evaporates, the additive is left within the wrapper matrix where it can reduce the porosity and/or oxygen diffusibility either before or during the burning of the smoking article. Once applied to the wrapper the liquid carrier is allowed to evaporate allowing the wrapper to dry and for the additive to set within the matrix of the wrapper.

[0034] The evaporation process may occur naturally or may be aided by the application of an external heat source or forced air movement to the surface of the wrapper at a "drying station". Preferably the external heat source is selected from heated contact rollers, hot air drying, microwave drying, radio frequency drying, infrared lamps or combinations thereof. The drying station may be positioned at any point along the length of the wrapper as it is processed. Preferably, in the embodiment where multiple print stations are used, a drying station is provided between adjacent print stations. The wrapper is allowed to dry after application of the additive in the liquid carrier from a first print station before further additive is applied from second and subsequent print stations. This configuration is advantageous since it allows the integrity of the wrapper to be maintained after addition of additive by a print station before being processed by subsequent print stations.

[0035] The additives that may be applied to the wrapper may be any of those used in the art to reduce the ignition propensity of smoking articles. Preferably, the additive is selected from alginates, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetates including partially hydrolysed derivatives and copolymers, modified and unmodified starches, cellulose derivatives such as carboy-methyl cellulose, ethyl-cellulose and hydroxymethyl-cellulose, pectins and combinations thereof. Preferably the additive further comprises inorganic ions such as phosphates, mono or divalent metal salts, silicas and other agents know in the art to modify the burn rate and combinations thereof.

[0036] Following addition of the additive the base wrapper is machined to produce a wrapper which upon in incorporation into the smoking article.

[0037] Following is a description by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of method of putting the invention in to effect, wherein

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a standard machine for printing additive on to cigarette wrappers to which the method of the present invention may be carried out;

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of three consecutive print stations and associated heat sources;

Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of a jumbo wrapper having multiple discontinuous lines of printed additive regions applied obtainable by a method of the present which is slit to making widths of wrapper;

Figure 4 is an alternative jumbo wrapper obtainable by a method of the present invention; and

Figure 5 is a further alternative jumbo wrapper obtainable by a method of the present invention.

Figures 6a and 6b is a graph of the distribution of additive loading levels in the cross direction of the wrapper;

Figure 7 is a graph of an alternative distribution of additive loading levels in the cross direction of the wrapper;

Figures 8a and 8b are graphs of alternative distributions of additive loading levels in the machine direction of the wrapper;

Figure 9 is a schematic drawing of a final wrapper showing the additive pattern and the wrapper incorporated in to a smoking article with annular rings of additive except in the overlap region.

[0038] A typical printing machine 1 comprises a compartment 2 for holding a jumbo roll 3 of wrapper 4, a series of rollers 5 and a series of print stations 6. In use, the leading edge of the jumbo roll 3 in fed through the rollers 5 such that the jumbo roll 3 is unwound. Additive is applied to the surface of the wrapper as it passes through the each print station 6.

[0039] The printing machine comprises multiple printing stations 6 arranged along the length of the unwound wrapper 4. As the wrapper 4 passes through the first printing station additive is applied to the surface of the wrapper 4 to form discrete regions of additive 7 in the cross direction corresponding to the width of the finished smoking article wrapper less the overlap region interspersed with regions of reduced or no additive 8. As the printing process continues, the regions of additive 7 from an individual printing station 6 take the form of columns in the machine direction. As the wrapper 4 passes through the second print station subsequent columns of additive regions are applied to the surface of the wrapper adjacent to the first column in the machine direction of the wrapper 4. Multiple lines may be sequentially printed on to the surface of the wrapper by passing through consecutive print stations 6. At the end of the process, the fully printed wrapper retains continuous regions in the machine direction of substantially reduced or zero additive corresponding to the area of the wrapper which will form the overlap at the gluing seam when the wrapper is incorporated in to the smoking article.

[0040] A drying station incorporating a heat source 9 is positioned between adjacent printing stations 6 such that when the wrapper 4 emerges from a print station it passes through the drying station 9 and the liquid carrier in which the additive is loaded evaporates from the surface of the wrapper 4. As a result, the integrity of the wrapper 4 is maintained before it enters the next print station 6 and further liquid carrier is applied to its surface. The additive carrier causes the additive to be drawn in to the matrix of the wrapper such that when the carrier evaporates from the wrapper the additive is impregnated within the matrix of the wrapper.

[0041] A wrapper according to a first aspect of the present invention is shown in Figure 3. The additive is printed on to the surface of the wrapper 4. The use of a suitable liquid carrier which penetrates the matrix of the wrapper causes the additive to be pulled in to the wrapper matrix such that it does not settle on the surface of the wrapper but impregnates the matrix of the wrapper. In the machine direction the fully printed wrapper retains continuous regions of substantially reduced or zero additive corresponding to the overlap area of the final wrapper and discrete columns of printing. Thus within a column of printing in the machine direction, the printing pattern remains consistent with that required for reduced ignition propensity performance. In the machine direction the printed regions of additive 7 have dimensions of 4-12mm width whilst the regions of reduced or no additive 8 are 10-30mm wide. In the cross direction, the printed regions of additive have dimensions equating to the width of the final wrapper less the overlap region.

[0042] After the wrapper 4 emerges from the printing machine 6 with the additive printed on to its surface it is machined to form an individual wrapper 12 which is incorporated in to the final smoking article 13. Individual columns of printing in the machine direction plus their surrounding envelopes may be cut in the machine direction by a slitting machine 11 to from individual wrappers as shown in figure 3. The wrapper making width has multiple continuous additive lines across its width with substantially reduced or zero printing at the edges. Although a continuous pattern is not formed across the jumbo roll 3, by rolling the individual wrapper 12 into a cylinder when incorporating it into the final smoking article an essentially continuous printing region sufficient to form a ring on the smoking article 13 having reduced porosity and/or oxygen diffusion is formed as shown in figure 9 but which ring of additive is interrupted at the overlap area of the wrapper at the gluing seam 14 since substantially reduced or no additive is applied to this region.

[0043] Alternatively double width bobbins or double bobbins may be machined from the source jumbo in the machine direction and these can then be further machined to yield individual wrappers at the smoking article or cigarette making machine as would be typical in currently available machinery.

[0044] Wrappers according to alternative embodiments of the invention are shown in Figures 4 and 5. In the first alternative embodiment the printing stations 6 are configured such that the columns of regions of additive 7 formed in the machine direction by printing multiple series of discontinuous lines are offset between adjacent columns. In the second alternative embodiment, the printing stations 6 are arranged such that the regions of additive 7 are printed on to the surface of the wrapper at an angle of up to 15° from the perpendicular to the machine direction.

[0045] The distribution of additive loading levels in the cross direction of the base wrapper 4 may be constant in a region of applied additive 7 as shown in Figure 6a such that there is substantially reduced or no additive applied at the outermost edges of the individual wrapper 12 when the wrapper 4 is slit. This distribution of additive loading is repeated cyclically in the cross direction of the wrapper 4 at each region of applied additive 7. In alternative embodiments, as shown in figures 6b and 7, the additive may be applied in increasing concentration in the cross direction of the wrapper 4 to a maximum level such that the region of applied additive 7 has maximum concentration of additive in an area at the centre of the individual wrapper 12 when the wrapper 4 is slit. In this embodiment the additive is applied in reducing concentration in the cross direction to reach a minimum level at the centre of the overlap region of the final wrapper 12.

[0046] In a similar manner the distribution of additive loading levels in the machine direction of the base wrapper 4 can be varied as shown in figures 8a & 8b.

[0047] The use of discontinuous printing of additive and multiple print stations 6 interspersed with heating sources allows the wrapper 4 to maintain its physical integrity during processing. The printing process is therefore not interrupted to repair any tears that may appear in the wrapper due to over wetting when applying the additive and shrinkage of the wrapper is minimised. In addition, as the wrapper 4 is generally less wet during the process of the invention compared to prior art methods, the wrapper does not experience "cockling" and the final smoking article has an improved appearance. Hence the complete process of taking a width of base paper, printing discontinuous regions of additive, drying, machining to wrapper width and forming smoking articles can be integrated into a sequential or on-line process by the suitable modification of currently existing cigarette making machinery.

Claims

1. A method of producing a wrapper for a smoking article comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a wrapper (4);

(b) applying one or more additives in a liquid carrier to the surface of the wrapper to impregnate the wrapper and transport the additive(s) into the wrapper matrix to form regions of applied additive (7) having reduced porosity and/or reduced oxygen diffusion sufficient to reduce the ignition propensity of a smoking article and regions having substantially reduced or zero additive (8);

(c) drying the wrapper to evaporate the liquid carrier and to leave the additives set into the wrapper matrix such that the wrapper (4) maintains its physical integrity during processing and has improved visual appearance by reduced wrinkling, wherein the regions of the wrapper with substantially reduced or zero (8) additive form the overlap area along its gluing seam (14) when incorporated in to the smoking article (13); and

(d) machining the wrapper (4) to form a finished wrapper (12) which upon incorporation into the smoking article (13) forms patterns of additive around the circumference of the smoking article but which has substantially reduced or zero additive at the area where the wrapper overlaps along its gluing seam (14); wherein the step of applying one or more additives to the wrapper causes the additive to be pulled into the wrapper matrix such that it does not settle on the wrapper surface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the regions with substantially reduced additive (8) have at least 50% less additive than the regions of applied additive(7) and preferably have at least 90% less additive than the regions of applied additive.

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the wrapper (4) is provided as a jumbo roll (3) and said regions of applied additive (7) and regions of substantially reduced or zero additive (8) are formed by discontinuous application of the additive across the surface of the wrapper (4) as is it unwound.

4. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the additive is applied to the wrapper (4) by one or more printing stations (6), wherein preferably one or more drying stations (9) is positioned between adjacent print stations (6) to dry the applied additive.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the wrapper (4) comprises a matrix structure and the liquid carrier draws the additive from the surface of the wrapper (4) into the matrix such that the additive is impregnated in the wrapper (4).

6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein two or more discontinuous lines of additive are applied to the surface of the wrapper (4) simultaneously in a single pass of the wrapper (4) through the one or more printing stations (6) or sequentially by multiple passes.

7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein two or more discontinuous lines of additive are printed on to the surface of the wrapper (4) in the cross direction across the wrapper (4) such that the applied regions of additive (7) from adjacent lines are arranged in columns in the machine direction across the wrapper (4) and spaced apart with regions of substantially reduced or zero additive (8).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each individual region of applied additive is offset at an angle perpendicular to the machine direction of the jumbo roll (3).

9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein each individual region of additive is applied to the wrapper (4) in a discontinuous line at an angle of up to 15° from the cross direction axis of the wrapper (4).

10. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the regions of applied additive (7) correspond to the circumference of the smoking article (13) or the circumference of the smoking article (13) less the side seam overlap (14) in the cross direction.

11. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the regions of applied additive (7) are from 4 to 12 mm wide and the regions of substantially reduced or zero additive (8) between adjacent regions of applied additive (7) are from 10 to 30 mm wide in the machine direction.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the pattern of applied additive is a ring configuration around the circumference of the smoking article (13).

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the pattern of applied additive is a discontinuous ring configuration around the circumference of the smoking article (13).

14. The method of any preceding claim, where in the additive comprises a compound selected from the group consisting of vinyl alcohols, vinyl acetates including partially hydrolysed derivatives, their homopolymers and co-polymers, alginates, modified or unmodified starch, cellulose and its derivatives such as carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl-cellulose and hydroxypropyl-cellulose, pectins, natural or synthetic waxes, inorganic ions, inorganic phosphate, mono or divalent metal salt, silica, burn retardants or combinations thereof.

15. A wrapper for a smoking article comprising regions of one or more additives (7) applied to its surface and following a drying step allowed to become impregnated in the wrapper matrix which regions have reduced porosity and/or reduced oxygen diffusion sufficient to reduce the ignition propensity of the smoking article and regions having substantially reduced or zero additive (8) such that the wrapper maintains its physical integrity during processing and has improved visual appearance by reduced wrinkling, wherein the regions of the wrapper with substantially reduced or zero additive (7) are positioned such that they form the overlap area along its gluing seam (14) when incorporated into the smoking article (13) and wherein the one or more additives (7) have been applied such that the additive is pulled into the wrapper matrix such that it does not settle on the wrapper surface.

16. A wrapper according to claim 15, further comprising one or more of the features of the wrapper defined in any of claim 2 to 14.

17. A smoking article comprising a wrapper (12) obtainable by a method of any of claims 1 to 14.

Ansprüche

1. Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Hülle für einen Rauchartikel, umfassend die folgenden Schritte:

(a) Bereitstellen einer Hülle (4);

(b) Aufbringen eines oder mehrerer Additive in einem flüssigen Träger auf die Oberfläche der Hülle, um die Hülle zu imprägnieren und das/die Additiv(e) in die Hüllenmatrix zu transportieren, um Bereiche des aufgebrachten Additivs (7) mit verringerter Porosität und/oder verringerter Sauerstoffdiffusion, die ausreicht, um die Zündneigung eines Rauchartikels zu verringern, und Bereiche mit im Wesentlichen verringertem oder keinem Additiv (8) auszubilden;

(c) Trocknen der Hülle, um den flüssigen Träger zu verdampfen und die in die Hüllenmatrix eingesetzten Additive derart zu belassen, dass die Hülle (4) ihre physische Integrität während des Verarbeitens beibehält und durch verringerte Faltenbildung ein verbessertes visuelles Erscheinungsbild aufweist, wobei die Bereiche der Hülle mit im Wesentlichen verringertem oder keinem (8) Additiv die Überlappungsfläche entlang ihrer Klebenaht (14) ausbilden, wenn sie in den Rauchartikel (13) integriert sind; und

(d) Bearbeiten der Hülle (4), um eine fertige Hülle (12) auszubilden, die beim Integrieren in den Rauchartikel (13) Muster von Additiven um den Umfang des Rauchartikels herum ausbildet, die jedoch an der Fläche, an der sich die Hülle entlang ihrer Klebenaht (14) überlappt, im Wesentlichen verringertes oder kein Additiv aufweist;

wobei der Schritt des Aufbringens eines oder mehrerer Additive auf die Hülle bewirkt, dass das Additiv in die Hüllenmatrix derart gezogen wird, dass es sich nicht auf der Hüllenoberfläche absetzt.

2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Bereiche mit im Wesentlichen verringertem Additiv (8) wenigstens 50 % weniger Additiv aufweisen als die Bereiche des aufgebrachten Additivs (7) und vorzugsweise wenigstens 90 % weniger Additiv aufweisen als die Bereiche des aufgebrachten Additivs.

3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die Hülle (4) als eine Jumborolle (3) bereitgestellt ist und die Bereiche des aufgebrachten Additivs (7) und die Bereiche des im Wesentlichen verringerten oder keines Additivs (8) durch diskontinuierliches Auftragen des Additivs über die Oberfläche der Hülle (4) ausgebildet werden, während sie abgewickelt wird.

4. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Additiv durch eine oder mehrere Druckstationen (6) auf die Hülle (4) aufgebracht wird, wobei vorzugsweise eine oder mehrere Trocknungsstationen (9) zwischen benachbarten Druckstationen (6) positioniert sind, um das aufgebrachte Additiv zu trocknen.

5. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Hülle (4) eine Matrixstruktur umfasst und der flüssige Träger das Additiv von der Oberfläche der Hülle (4) in die Matrix derart hinein zieht, dass das Additiv in die Hülle (4) imprägniert ist.

6. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei zwei oder mehr diskontinuierliche Linien von Additiven gleichzeitig in einem einzigen Durchgang der Hülle (4) durch die eine oder die mehreren Druckstationen (6) oder nacheinander durch mehrere Durchgänge auf die Oberfläche der Hülle (4) aufgebracht werden.

7. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei zwei oder mehr diskontinuierliche Linien eines Additivs auf die Oberfläche der Hülle (4) in der Querrichtung über die Hülle (4) derart gedruckt werden, dass die aufgebrachten Bereiche des Additivs (7) aus benachbarten Linien in Spalten in der Maschinenrichtung über die Hülle (4) hinweg angeordnet sind und mit Bereichen von im Wesentlichen verringertem oder keinem Additiv (8) beabstandet sind.

8. Verfahren nach Anspruch 7, wobei jeder einzelne Bereich des aufgebrachten Additivs in einem Winkel senkrecht zu der Maschinenrichtung der Jumborolle (3) versetzt ist.

9. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei jeder einzelne Bereich des Additivs in einer diskontinuierlichen Linie in einem Winkel von bis zu 15° von der Querrichtungsachse der Hülle (4) auf die Hülle (4) aufgebracht wird.

10. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bereiche des aufgebrachten Additivs (7) dem Umfang des Rauchartikels (13) oder dem Umfang des Rauchartikels (13) abzüglich der Seitennahtüberlappung (14) in der Querrichtung entsprechen.

11. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Bereiche des aufgebrachten Additivs (7) von 4 bis 12 mm breit sind und die Bereiche des im Wesentlichen verringerten oder keines Additivs (8) zwischen benachbarten Bereichen des aufgebrachten Additivs (7) von 10 bis 30 mm breit in der Maschinenrichtung sind.

12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Muster des aufgebrachten Additivs eine Ringkonfiguration um den Umfang des Rauchartikels (13) herum ist.

13. Verfahren nach Anspruch 12, wobei das Muster des aufgebrachten Additivs eine diskontinuierliche Ringkonfiguration um den Umfang des Rauchartikels (13) herum ist.

14. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Additiv eine Verbindung umfasst, die aus der Gruppe ausgewählt ist, die aus Folgendem besteht:
Vinylalkoholen, Vinylacetaten, einschließlich teilweise hydrolysierter Derivate, deren Homopolymeren und Copolymeren, Alginaten, modifizierter oder unmodifizierter Stärke, Cellulose und ihren Derivaten wie etwa Carboxymethylcellulose, Ethylcellulose und Hydroxypropylcellulose, Pektinen, natürlichen oder synthetischen Wachsen, anorganischen Ionen, anorganischem Phosphat, ein- oder zweiwertigem Metallsalz, Siliziumdioxid, Flammschutzmitteln oder Kombinationen davon.

15. Hülle für einen Rauchartikel, Folgendes umfassend: Bereiche eines oder mehrerer Additive (7), die auf ihre Oberfläche aufgebracht sind und nach einem Trocknungsschritt in die Hüllenmatrix imprägniert werden können, wobei die Bereiche eine verringerte Porosität und/oder eine verringerte Sauerstoffdiffusion aufweisen, die ausreicht, um die Zündneigung des Rauchartikels zu verringern, und Bereiche eines im Wesentlichen verringerten oder keines Additivs (8), derart, dass die Hülle ihre physische Integrität während des Verarbeitens aufrechterhält und durch verringerte Faltenbildung ein verbessertes visuelles Erscheinungsbild aufweist, wobei die Bereiche der Hülle mit einem im Wesentlichen verringerten oder keinem Additiv (7) derart positioniert sind, dass sie den Überlappungsbereich entlang ihrer Klebenaht (14) ausbilden, wenn sie in den Rauchartikel (13) integriert werden, und wobei das eine oder die mehreren Additive (7) derart aufgebracht wurden, dass das Additiv in die Hüllenmatrix derart hinein gezogen wird, dass es sich nicht auf der Hüllenoberfläche absetzt.

16. Hülle nach Anspruch 15, ferner umfassend eines oder mehrere der Merkmale der Hülle, die nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 14 definiert sind.

17. Rauchartikel, umfassend eine Hülle (12), die durch ein Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14 erhältlich ist.

Revendications

1. Procédé de fabrication d'une enveloppe pour un article à fumer comprenant les étapes consistant à :

(a) fournir une enveloppe (4) ;

(b) appliquer un ou plusieurs additifs dans un support liquide à la surface de l'enveloppe pour imprégner l'enveloppe et transporter le ou les additifs dans la matrice de l'enveloppe pour former des régions d'application de l'additif (7) ayant une porosité réduite et/ou une diffusion d'oxygène réduite, assez pour réduire le potentiel d'inflammation d'un article à fumer et des régions ayant un additif considérablement réduit ou nul (8) ;

(c) sécher l'enveloppe pour évaporer le support liquide et laisser les additifs fixés dans la matrice de l'enveloppe de telle sorte que l'enveloppe (4) conserve son intégrité physique pendant le traitement et ait un aspect visuel amélioré par réduction des plis, les zones de l'enveloppe avec un additif sensiblement réduit ou nul (8) formant la surface de recouvrement le long de son joint de collage (14) une fois incorporée à l'article à fumer (13) ; et à

(d) usiner l'enveloppe (4) pour former une enveloppe finie (12) qui, lors de son incorporation dans l'article à fumer (13), forme des motifs d'additif autour de la circonférence de l'article à fumer mais qui a un additif considérablement réduit ou nul dans la zone où l'enveloppe chevauche son joint de collage (14) ;

dans lequel l'étape consistant à appliquer un ou plusieurs additifs à l'enveloppe provoque l'introduction de l'additif dans la matrice de l'enveloppe de telle sorte qu'il ne se dépose pas sur la surface de l'enveloppe.

2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les régions où l'additif (8) est sensiblement réduit ont au moins 50 % en moins d'additif que les régions où l'additif (7) a été appliqué et de préférence au moins 90 % en moins d'additif que les régions où il a été appliqué.

3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel l'enveloppe (4) est fournie sous la forme d'un rouleau géant (3) et lesdites régions d'additif appliqué (7) et lesdites régions d'additif sensiblement réduit ou nul (8) sont formées par application discontinue de l'additif sur la surface de l'enveloppe (4) quand on le déroule.

4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'additif est appliqué sur l'enveloppe (4) par un ou plusieurs postes d'impression (6), dans lequel de préférence un ou plusieurs postes de séchage (9) sont positionnés entre des postes d'impression (6) voisins pour sécher l'additif appliqué.

5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'enveloppe (4) comprend une structure matricielle et le support liquide aspire l'additif de la surface de l'enveloppe (4) dans la matrice de sorte que l'additif soit imprégné dans l'enveloppe (4).

6. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins deux lignes discontinues d'additif sont appliquées à la surface de l'enveloppe (4) simultanément dans un seul passage de l'enveloppe (4) à travers un ou plusieurs postes d'impression (6) ou successivement par plusieurs passages.

7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins deux lignes discontinues d'additif sont imprimées sur la surface de l'enveloppe (4) dans la direction transversale à travers l'enveloppe (4) de telle sorte que les zones d'additif (7) appliquées à partir de lignes adjacentes soient disposées en colonnes dans la direction d'usinage à travers l'enveloppe (4) et espacées les unes des autres par des zones d'additif sensiblement réduit ou nul (8).

8. Procédé selon la revendication 7, dans lequel chaque zone individuelle de l'additif appliqué est décalée selon un angle perpendiculaire au sens d'usinage du rouleau géant (3).

9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chaque zone individuelle d'additif est appliquée sur l'enveloppe (4) en une ligne discontinue sous un angle allant jusqu'à 15° par rapport à l'axe transversal de l'enveloppe (4).

10. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les zones de l'additif appliqué (7) correspondent à la circonférence de l'article à fumer (13) ou à la circonférence de l'article à fumer (13) moins le chevauchement de couture latérale (14) dans la direction transversale.

11. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les zones d'additif appliqué (7) ont une largeur de 4 à 12 mm et les zones d'additif sensiblement réduit ou nul (8) entre les zones adjacentes d'additif appliqué (7) ont une largeur de 10 à 30 mm dans le sens d'usinage.

12. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le motif de l'additif appliqué est une configuration en anneau autour de la circonférence de l'article à fumer (13).

13. Procédé selon la revendication 12, dans lequel le motif de l'additif appliqué est une configuration en anneau discontinu autour de la circonférence de l'article à fumer (13).

14. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'additif comprend un composé choisi dans le groupe constitué par des alcools vinyliques, des acétates de vinyle, y compris des dérivés partiellement hydrolysés, leurs homopolymères et copolymères, des alginates, l'amidon modifié ou non, la cellulose et ses dérivés tels que carboxyméthylcellulose, éthylcellulose et hydroxypropylcellulose, des pectines, des cires naturelles ou synthétiques, des ions minéraux, un sel phosphate minéral de métal mono- ou divalent, de la silice, des retardants ou des combinaisons de ceux-ci.

15. Enveloppe pour un article à fumer comprenant des régions d'un ou plusieurs additifs (7) appliqués à sa surface et suivant une étape de séchage permise pour imprégnation dans la matrice de l'enveloppe, lesquelles régions ont une porosité réduite et/ou une diffusion d'oxygène réduite, assez pour réduire le potentiel d'inflammation d'un article à fumer, et des régions ayant un additif considérablement réduit ou nul (8), de sorte que l'enveloppe maintienne son intégrité physique pendant le traitement et ait un aspect visuel amélioré par réduction des plis, les zones de l'enveloppe avec un additif sensiblement réduit ou nul (7) étant positionnées de façon à former la surface de recouvrement le long de son joint de collage (14) une fois incorporée à l'article à fumer (13) et l'au moins un additif (7) ayant été appliqué de sorte que l'additif soit introduit dans la matrice de l'enveloppe de façon à ne pas se déposer sur la surface de l'enveloppe.

16. Enveloppe selon la revendication 15, comprenant en outre une ou plusieurs des caractéristiques de l'enveloppe définies dans l'une quelconque des revendications 2 à 14.

17. Article à fumer comprenant une enveloppe (12) pouvant être obtenue par un procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14.

Drawing