Smoking article having a perforated tipping wrapper

Abstract

 A smoking article (30) comprises an aerosol generating substrate (32) and a mouthpiece in axial alignment with the aerosol generating substrate (32). A tipping wrapper (10) is wrapped around the mouthpiece and at least a portion of the aerosol generating substrate (32), the tipping wrapper (10) comprising a row of perforations (20) extending around the tipping wrapper (10), wherein the row of perforations (20) comprises uncut segments (24) of tipping wrapper between consecutive perforations (22). The total length of the uncut segments (24) defines a percentage of hold of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations (20).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a smoking article comprising a tipping wrapper having a row of perforations, wherein the tipping wrapper is intended to be broken along the row of perforations. The present invention also relates to methods of forming such smoking articles.

[0002] Filter cigarettes typically comprise a cylindrical rod of tobacco cut filler surrounded by a paper wrapper and a cylindrical filter axially aligned in an abutting end-to-end relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod. The cylindrical filter typically comprises a filtration material circumscribed by a paper plug wrap. Conventionally, the wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are joined by a band of tipping wrapper, normally formed of an opaque paper material that circumscribes the entire length of the filter and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod.

[0003] A number of smoking articles in which tobacco is heated rather than combusted have also been proposed in the art. In heated smoking articles, an aerosol is generated by heating a flavour generating substrate, such as tobacco. Known heated smoking articles include, for example, electrically heated smoking articles and smoking articles in which an aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a combustible fuel element or heat source to a physically separate aerosol forming material. During smoking, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol forming substrate by heat transfer from the fuel element and entrained in air drawn through the smoking article. As the released compounds cool they condense to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the consumer. Also known are smoking articles in which a nicotine-containing aerosol is generated from a tobacco material, tobacco extract, or other nicotine source, without combustion, and in some cases without heating, for example through a chemical reaction.

[0004] Sometimes it is desirable to provide a smoking article wrapper, such as a tipping wrapper, with means for moving a portion of the wrapper relative to the remainder of the wrapper. For example, some smoking articles comprise a filter wrapped in a plug wrap, wherein the plug wrap and the overlying tipping wrapper each comprise one or more ventilation holes to allow ventilation air to enter the filter. In some cases, it is desirable to allow the consumer to rotate a portion of the tipping wrapper comprising the ventilation holes so that the amount of ventilation air entering the ventilation holes in the plug wrap can be varied as desired. However, such smoking articles can be difficult to manufacture due to complexities involved in constructing a smoking article with a rotatable portion of the tipping wrapper. It would therefore be desirable to provide a smoking article comprising a wrapper that facilitates movement of a portion of the wrapper relative to the remainder of the wrapper without complicating the manufacture of the smoking article.

[0005] Accordingly, the present invention provides a smoking article comprising an aerosol generating substrate and a mouthpiece in axial alignment with the aerosol generating substrate. A tipping wrapper is wrapped around the mouthpiece and at least a portion of the aerosol generating substrate, the tipping wrapper comprising a row of perforations extending around the tipping wrapper, wherein the row of perforations comprises uncut segments of tipping wrapper between consecutive perforations. The total length of the uncut segments defines a percentage of hold of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

[0006] As used herein, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used to describe the relative positions of elements, or portions of elements, of the smoking article in relation to the direction in which a user draws on the smoking article during use thereof. Smoking articles as described herein comprise a downstream end (that is, the mouth end) and an opposed upstream end. In use, a user draws on the downstream end of the smoking article. The downstream end is downstream of the upstream end, which may also be described as the distal end.

[0007] The term "longitudinal direction" is used herein to refer to the direction extending between the upstream and downstream ends of the smoking article. Where the smoking article has a substantially cylindrical shape, the axis of the cylinder extends in the longitudinal direction. The "transverse direction" extends perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the "circumferential direction" extends around the longitudinal direction.

[0008] The term "row of perforations" is used herein to mean a plurality of perforations that extend in a line around the tipping wrapper. The row of perforations extends generally in the circumferential direction when the tipping wrapper is wrapped around the mouthpiece. If the tipping wrapper is unwrapped, the row of perforations extends generally in the transverse direction.

[0009] After the row of perforations has been formed, the perforations are spaced apart in the circumferential direction (or the transverse direction, prior to wrapping) by uncut segments between adjacent perforations to form an unbroken row of perforations. After the row of perforations has been formed the uncut segments may be torn or otherwise severed to form a broken row of perforations. The row of perforations may be broken during manufacture of the smoking article or after manufacture of the smoking article, for example by the consumer. The term "row of perforations" includes both unbroken and broken rows of perforations.

[0010] Adjacent perforations in a row of perforations may also be spaced in the longitudinal direction. The maximum spacing in the longitudinal direction between adjacent perforations in a row of perforations is about 0.3 millimetres, preferably about 0.2 millimetres, as measured between the closest longitudinally-spaced points between adjacent perforations.

[0011] The line defined by the row of perforations may be any shape, such as linear, or a wave shape such as sinusoidal, sawtooth or triangular. Preferably, the row of perforations is linear. More preferably, the row of perforations is linear and defines a line that extends substantially only in the circumferential direction.

[0012] A "percentage of hold" for a row of perforations can be used as an indication of the strength of the row of perforations and is defined as:


wherein the length of each uncut segment is the shortest distance along the tipping wrapper between adjacent perforations, and wherein the length of each perforation is the length of a straight line drawn between the two circumferential extremities of the perforation. In the case of a circular perforation, the length of the perforation is the diameter of the circle.

[0013] A high percentage of hold therefore represents a row of perforations in which a large amount of uncut material remains between the perforations. A row of perforations that has a high percentage of hold will generally require more force to break the tipping wrapper along the row of perforations.

[0014] The percentage of hold for a given row of perforations can be determined using the equation above after measuring the length of each perforation and the length of each uncut segment. The measurements can be made by viewing or imaging the row of perforations microscopically. A skilled person can readily determine the lengths of the perforations and the lengths of the uncut segments for a broken row of perforations as the individual perforations are still discernible between the broken portions of the uncut segments.

[0015] Smoking articles in accordance with the present invention comprise a row of perforations that defines a percentage of hold of between about 15 percent and about 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations. Advantageously, the present inventors have recognised that a percentage of hold in this range is large enough to prevent accidental breakage of the tipping wrapper along the row of perforations when the tipping wrapper is handled during manufacture of the smoking article, while remaining low enough so that only a moderate breaking force is required to intentionally break the wrapper along the row of perforations after the smoking article has been constructed. It has been found that the force required to break a wrapper along a row of perforations defining a percentage of hold within this range is largely independent of the basis weight of the sheet material used to form the tipping wrapper when comparing different sheet materials that are typically used to form wrappers for smoking articles. Therefore, using a row of perforations that defines a percentage of hold within this range permits the use of different sheet materials to form the tipping wrapper while minimising or eliminating the need to adjust or modify the manufacturing equipment to accommodate the different materials.

[0016] Preferably, the percentage of hold of the row of perforations is between about 18 percent and about 25 percent of the total length of the row of perforations, more preferably between about 18 percent and about 20 percent of the total length of the row of perforations. A percentage of hold within these ranges can provide a breaking force required to break the row of perforations that provides an optimum balance between the strength required to prevent accidental breakage of the row of perforations and the weakness required to minimise the force necessary to intentionally break the row of perforations. The percentage of hold can be tailored within any of the above ranges depending on whether the row of perforations is intended to be pre-broken online during the manufacturing process, or left intact for the consumer to break prior to smoking the smoking article.

[0017] In some embodiments the tipping wrapper comprises an upstream tipping wrapper portion extending upstream from the row of perforations and a downstream tipping wrapper portion extending downstream from the row of perforations. The upstream tipping wrapper portion is attached to a downstream portion of the aerosol generating substrate and an upstream portion of the mouthpiece, and the downstream tipping wrapper portion is not directly attached to the upstream portion of the mouthpiece so that the downstream tipping wrapper portion is moveable with respect to the upstream tipping wrapper portion when the perforations are broken. For example, the downstream tipping wrapper may be rotatable or slidable relative to the upstream tipping wrapper portion.

[0018] In some embodiments, the action of moving the downstream tipping wrapper portion with respect to the upstream tipping wrapper portion breaks the row of perforations. For example, in one embodiment the row of perforations is broken during manufacture of the smoking article, by rotating the downstream tipping wrapper portion after the wrapper has been wrapped around the aerosol generating substrate and the mouthpiece. Advantageously, this eliminates the need for the consumer to break the row of perforations prior to smoking the smoking article. This may be of particular benefit to those consumers who may have difficulty in grasping the smoking article or providing the required force to break the row of perforations. Alternatively, the row of perforations can be left intact for the consumer to break prior to smoking the smoking article.

[0019] To facilitate movement of the downstream tipping wrapper portion relative to the upstream tipping wrapper portion, it is preferable to provide a low friction treatment between the downstream tipping wrapper portion and any underlying portions of the mouthpiece that are not directly attached to the downstream tipping wrapper portion. The low friction treatment can be applied to the outer surface of the mouthpiece, the inner surface of the downstream tipping wrapper portion, or both. For example, the low friction treatment may include a low friction coating such as a lacquer (nitro cellulose or ethyl cellulose, for example), a polyolefin based wax, a polymeric coating, or a lubricant containing at least one of long-chain saturated fatty acids, fatty alcohols and tristearin. Additionally, or alternatively, the low friction treatment may include at least one of hydrous kaolin and talc as a filler, either mixed into the material forming the tipping wrapper, or mixed with a lacquer applied as a coating, or both. In addition, or in the alternative, the low friction treatment may include calendering the inner surface of the material forming the tipping wrapper to provide a smoother surface in contact with the underlying portions of the mouthpiece.

[0020] To secure the upstream tipping wrapper portion to the upstream portion of the mouthpiece and to the aerosol generating substrate, the smoking article may comprise an adhesive underlying the upstream tipping wrapper portion and securing the upstream tipping wrapper portion to the downstream portion of the aerosol generating substrate and the upstream portion of the mouthpiece. The smoking article is free from adhesive between the downstream tipping wrapper portion and at least a portion of the mouthpiece underlying the downstream tipping wrapper portion to facilitate the movement of the downstream tipping wrapper portion with respect to the upstream tipping wrapper portion.

[0021] To ensure that the aerosol generating substrate and the mouthpiece remain secured together, the distance between the mouth end of the mouthpiece and the row of perforations is preferably less than about 25 millimetres. Additionally, or alternatively, the distance between the mouth end of the mouthpiece and the row of perforations is preferably at least about 15 millimetres.

[0022] In any of the embodiments described above, the force required to break the row of perforations can be defined as the perforation strength. The perforation strength for a given row of perforations corresponds to the shear force in the direction along the row of perforations that is required to break the perforations. Perforation strength can be measured by attaching a first clamp to a first edge of the tipping wrapper on a first side of the row of perforations and attaching a second clamp to a second edge of the tipping wrapper on a second side of the row of perforations. The spacing between each of the clamps and the row of perforations is no more than 2 millimetres, and the test is conducted at 22 degrees Celsius and 60 percent relative humidity. The first and second clamps are then pulled away from each other to apply a shear force along the row of perforations. The shear force is increased incrementally until the row of perforations breaks, at which point the shear force corresponds to the perforation strength. The perforation strength is expressed as the shear force in Newtons per 150 millimetres, where the 150 mm refers to the length of the row of perforations.

[0023] An exemplary test apparatus for measuring perforation strength is illustrated in Figure 3, which shows a sheet of tipping wrapper material 100 comprising a row of perforations 102. First and second clamps 104, 106 are attached to the tipping wrapper material 100 either side of the row of perforations 102. The first and second clamps 104, 106 are then pulled away from each other in the direction of the arrows and the separation force is increased incrementally until the row of perforations breaks.

[0024] The perforation strength test is preferably conducted on a sample of tipping wrapper material having a row of perforations that is 150 millimetres long and which has not been processed to form a smoking article. However, the test can also be conducted on a sample tipping wrapper that has been removed from a smoking article. In this case, the wrapper should be peeled from the smoking article and the test conducted as above. Depending on the length of the row of perforations of the sample, the force required to break the row of perforations can be scaled to provide the perforation strength in Newtons per 150 millimetres. For example, a force of 2 Newtons required to break a tipping wrapper having a row of perforations with a total length of 25 millimetres can be scaled to give a perforation strength of 12 Newtons per 150 millimetres for the row of perforations.

[0025] For samples of tipping wrapper material that have not been processed to form a smoking article, the row of perforations preferably has a perforation strength of between about 8 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 12 Newtons per 150 millimetres, more preferably between about 9 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 11 Newtons per 150 millimetres. It has been found that the perforation strength for different basis weight papers is very similar when using a percentage of hold within the range required by the present invention.

[0026] For tipping wrapper samples that have been removed from a smoking article, the row of perforations preferably has a perforation strength of between about 3 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 7 Newtons per 150 millimetres, more preferably between about 4 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 6 Newtons per 150 millimetres.

[0027] Preferably, the average length of the perforations is between about 0.4 millimetres and about 1.2 millimetres, and preferably the average spacing between adjacent perforations is between about 0.1 millimetres and about 0.3 millimetres.

[0028] In those embodiments in which the tipping wrapper comprises upstream and downstream tipping wrapper portions, the smoking article may comprise one or more first ventilations holes in the downstream tipping wrapper portions. The mouthpiece may comprise a mouthpiece wrapper comprising one or more second ventilation holes underlying the downstream tipping wrapper portion. By rotating the downstream tipping wrapper portion, the relative position of the first and second ventilation holes can be changed such that a ventilation of the smoking article is modified.

[0029] Each of the first and second ventilations holes may have any suitable shape, such as circular, oval or elliptical. Alternatively, each of the ventilations holes may be a square, a rectangle or a slit. Preferably, the largest dimension of each ventilation hole is between about 2 millimetres and about 5 millimetres. More preferably, the largest dimension of each ventilation hole is between about 3 millimetres and about 4 millimetres.

[0030] The tipping wrapper may comprise paper having a basis weight of less than about 70 grams per square metre, preferably less than about 50 grams per square metre. The tipping wrapper preferably has a basis weight of more than about 20 grams per square metre.

[0031] Smoking articles according to the present invention may be filter cigarettes or other smoking articles in which a tobacco material is combusted to form smoke. Alternatively, smoking articles according to the present invention may be articles in which a tobacco material is heated to form an aerosol, rather than combusted. In one type of heated smoking article, a tobacco material is heated by one or more electrical heating elements to produce an aerosol. In another type of heated smoking article, an aerosol is produced by the transfer of heat from a combustible or chemical heat source to a physically separate tobacco material, which may be located within, around or downstream of the heat source. The present invention further encompasses smoking articles in which a nicotine-containing aerosol is generated from a tobacco material, tobacco extract, or other nicotine source, without combustion, and in some cases without heating, for example through a chemical reaction.

[0032] The present invention also extends to wrappers for use in forming smoking articles in accordance with any of the embodiments described above. Therefore, the present invention also provides a wrapper for a smoking article, the wrapper comprising a row of perforations extending in a transverse direction across the wrapper. The row of perforations comprises uncut segments of wrapper between consecutive perforations, and the total length of the uncut segments defines a percentage of hold of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations. The wrapper may include any of the optional and preferred features described above with respect to wrappers forming part of a smoking article.

[0033] The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a smoking article in accordance with any of the embodiments described above. Therefore, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a smoking article, the method comprising steps of providing an aerosol generating substrate and providing a mouthpiece in axial alignment with the aerosol generating substrate. A tipping wrapper is provided and comprises a row of perforations extending across the tipping wrapper. The tipping wrapper is wrapped around the mouthpiece and at least a portion of the aerosol generating substrate so that the row of perforations extends around the tipping wrapper. The row of perforations comprises uncut segments of tipping wrapper between consecutive perforations, and the total length of the uncut segments defines a percentage of hold of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

[0034] Preferably, the percentage of hold is between about 18 percent and about 25 percent of the total length of the row of perforations, more preferably between about 18 percent and about 20 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

[0035] The tipping wrapper preferably comprises an upstream tipping wrapper portion extending upstream from the row of perforations and a downstream tipping wrapper portion extending downstream from the row of perforations. The upstream tipping wrapper portion is attached to a downstream portion of the aerosol generating substrate and an upstream portion of the mouthpiece, and the downstream tipping wrapper portion is not directly attached to the upstream portion of the mouthpiece so that the downstream tipping wrapper portion is moveable with respect to the upstream tipping wrapper portion when the perforations are broken. The method may comprise a step of displacing the downstream tipping wrapper portion in the circumferential direction relative to the upstream tipping wrapper portion so that the tipping wrapper is severed along the row of perforations. Alternatively, the row of perforations can be left intact for the consumer to break prior to smoking the smoking article.

[0036] The method may further comprise a step of forming one or more first ventilation holes in the downstream tipping wrapper portion, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a mouthpiece wrapper comprising one or more second ventilation holes underlying the downstream tipping wrapper portion, and wherein rotation of the downstream tipping wrapper portion changes the relative position of the first and second ventilation holes such that a ventilation of the smoking article is modified. Each of the one or more ventilations holes may have any suitable shape, such as circular, oval or elliptical. Alternatively, each of the ventilations holes may be a square, a rectangle or a slit. Preferably, the largest dimension of each ventilation hole is between about 2 millimetres and about 5 millimetres. More preferably, the largest dimension of each ventilation hole is between about 3 millimetres and about 4 millimetres.

[0037] The tipping wrapper may comprise paper having a basis weight of less than about 70 grams per square metre, preferably less than about 50 grams per square metre. The tipping wrapper preferably has a basis weight of more than about 20 grams per square metre.

[0038] Before the tipping wrapper is processed to form the smoking article, the row of perforations preferably has a perforation strength of between about 8 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 12 Newtons per 150 millimetres, more preferably between about 9 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 11 Newtons per 150 millimetres. After the tipping wrapper has been processed to form the smoking article, the row of perforations preferably has a perforation strength of between about 3 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 7 Newtons per 150 millimetres, more preferably between about 4 Newtons per 150 millimetres and about 6 Newtons per 150 millimetres.

[0039] The present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a wrapper used to construct a cigarette in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a cigarette in accordance with the present invention and constructed with the wrapper shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 shows an exemplary test apparatus for measuring perforation strength, as described above.

[0040] A tipping wrapper 10 as shown in Figure 1 is formed from a sheet of standard tipping paper and comprises a length 12 extending in a transverse direction 14, which becomes the circumferential direction once the tipping wrapper 10 is wrapped during the manufacture of a smoking article. The tipping wrapper 10 also has a width 16 extending in a longitudinal direction 18 perpendicular to the transverse direction 14.

[0041] The tipping wrapper 10 has a linear row of perforations 20 extending in the transverse direction 14 along the full length 12 of the tipping wrapper 10. The row of perforations 20 comprises a plurality of perforations 22 each having a length extending in the transverse direction 14 and spaced apart by uncut segments 24 between consecutive perforations 22. The total length of the uncut segments 24 defines a percentage of hold of about 18 percent of the total length of the row of perforations 20.

[0042] The tipping wrapper 10 also includes a ventilation hole 26 extending through the sheet of tipping paper.

[0043] Figure 2 shows a filter cigarette 30 incorporating the tipping wrapper 10 shown in Figure 1. The tipping wrapper 10 is partially unwrapped to show the construction of the cigarette 30.

[0044] The cigarette 30 comprises a tobacco rod 32 and a mouthpiece comprising a plug of filtration material 34 axially aligned with the tobacco rod 32 and a plug wrap 36 circumscribing the plug of filtration material 34. The plug wrap 36 includes a ventilation hole 38 extending therethrough.

[0045] The tipping wrapper 10 is wrapped around the mouthpiece and a portion of the tobacco rod 32 so that an upstream portion 40 of the tipping wrapper 10 upstream of the row of perforations 20 secures the tobacco rod 32 to the mouthpiece. The upstream portion 40 of the tipping wrapper 10 is glued to the underlying portions of the tobacco rod 32 and the mouthpiece.

[0046] The ventilation hole 26 in the tipping wrapper 10 is positioned over the ventilation hole 38 in the plug wrap 36 when the tipping wrapper 10 is wrapped completely around the mouthpiece. By rotating a downstream portion 42 of the tipping wrapper 10 downstream of the row of perforations 20, the position of the ventilation hole 26 in the tipping wrapper 10 relative to the ventilation hole 38 in the plug wrap 36 can be varied so that the ventilation of the filtration material 34 is modified. After the tipping wrapper 10 has been completely wrapped around the mouthpiece, the downstream portion 42 of the tipping wrapper 10 is rotated relative to the upstream portion 40 of the tipping wrapper 10 on the production line to break the row of perforations 20 prior to packaging the cigarettes 30 for delivery to the consumer.

Claims

1. A smoking article comprising:

an aerosol generating substrate;

a mouthpiece in axial alignment with the aerosol generating substrate; and

a tipping wrapper wrapped around the mouthpiece and at least a portion of the aerosol generating substrate, the tipping wrapper comprising a row of perforations extending around the tipping wrapper, wherein the row of perforations comprises uncut segments of tipping wrapper between consecutive perforations, and wherein the total length of the uncut segments defines a percentage of hold of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

2. A smoking article according to claim 1, wherein the percentage of hold is between 18 percent and 25 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

3. A smoking article according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tipping wrapper comprises:

an upstream tipping wrapper portion extending upstream from the row of perforations, wherein the upstream tipping wrapper portion is attached to a downstream portion of the aerosol generating substrate and an upstream portion of the mouthpiece; and

a downstream tipping wrapper portion extending downstream from the row of perforations, wherein the downstream tipping wrapper portion is not directly attached to the upstream portion of the mouthpiece so that the downstream tipping wrapper portion is moveable with respect to the upstream tipping wrapper portion when the perforations are broken.

4. A smoking article according to claim 3, wherein the downstream tipping wrapper portion is displaced in the circumferential direction relative to the upstream tipping wrapper portion so that the tipping wrapper is severed along the row of perforations.

5. A smoking article according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the downstream tipping wrapper portion comprises one or more first ventilation holes, the mouthpiece comprising a mouthpiece wrapper comprising one or more second ventilation holes underlying the downstream tipping wrapper portion, wherein rotation of the downstream tipping wrapper portion changes the relative position of the first and second ventilation holes such that a ventilation of the smoking article is modified.

6. A smoking article according to any preceding claim, wherein the row of perforations has a perforation strength of between 3 Newtons per 150 millimetres and 7 Newtons per 150 millimetres as measured when the tipping wrapper is removed from the smoking article.

7. A smoking article according to any preceding claim, wherein the average length of the perforations is between 0.4 millimetres and 1.2 millimetres, and wherein the average spacing between adjacent perforations is between 0.1 millimetres and 0.3 millimetres.

8. A wrapper for a smoking article, the wrapper comprising a row of perforations extending in a transverse direction across the wrapper, wherein the row of perforations comprises uncut segments of wrapper between consecutive perforations, and wherein the total length of the uncut segments defines a percentage of hold of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

9. A wrapper according to claim 8, wherein the percentage of hold is between 18 percent and 25 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

10. A wrapper according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the row of perforations has a perforation strength of between 8 Newtons per 150 millimetres and 12 Newtons per 150 millimetres as measured before the wrapper is processed to form a smoking article.

11. A method of manufacturing a smoking article, the method comprising:

providing an aerosol generating substrate;

providing a mouthpiece in axial alignment with the aerosol generating substrate;

providing a tipping wrapper comprising a row of perforations extending across the tipping wrapper; and

wrapping the tipping wrapper around the mouthpiece and at least a portion of the aerosol generating substrate so that the row of perforations extends around the tipping wrapper, wherein the row of perforations comprises uncut segments of tipping wrapper between consecutive perforations, and wherein the total length of the uncut segments defines a percentage of hold of between 15 percent and 30 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the percentage of hold is between 18 percent and 25 percent of the total length of the row of perforations.

13. A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the tipping wrapper comprises an upstream tipping wrapper portion extending upstream from the row of perforations and a downstream tipping wrapper portion extending downstream from the row of perforations, the method further comprising a step of:

attaching only the upstream tipping wrapper portion to a downstream portion of the aerosol generating substrate and an upstream portion of the mouthpiece, so that the downstream tipping wrapper portion is not directly attached to the upstream portion of the mouthpiece so that the downstream tipping wrapper portion is moveable with respect to the upstream tipping wrapper portion when the perforations are broken.

14. A method of manufacturing a smoking article according to claim 13, the method further comprising a step of displacing the downstream tipping wrapper portion in the circumferential direction relative to the upstream tipping wrapper portion so that the tipping wrapper is severed along the row of perforations.

15. A method according claim 13 or 14, further comprising a step of forming one or more first ventilation holes in the downstream tipping wrapper portion, wherein the mouthpiece comprises one or more second ventilation holes underlying the downstream tipping wrapper portion, and wherein rotation of the downstream tipping wrapper portion changes the relative position of the first and second ventilation holes such that a ventilation of the smoking article is modified.

Drawing