TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Embodiments relate to a filter, an aerosol-generating article including the filter,
and a filter manufacturing method.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There is an increasing demand for composite filters that are applied to cigarettes
and smoking articles and additionally include a heterogeneous material different from
a filtering material. The known composite filter is manufactured by respectively manufacturing
a filter including only a filtering material and a filter including the heterogeneous
material and by bonding the two types of filters. As such, composite filters are manufactured
through a more complicated manufacturing process than filters that do not include
the heterogeneous material, and thus, there is a problem in that variations occur
in physical properties of the composite filters to be manufactured, or time and cost
required for manufacturing the composite filters increase.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
[0003] Provided are a filter that includes a heterogeneous material and reduces variations
in physical properties thereof and an aerosol-generating article including the filter.
[0004] In addition, provided is a filter manufacturing method that may reduce variations
in physical properties of a filter including a heterogeneous material manufactured
by simplifying a process and reduce manufacturing time and cost.
[0005] Objects to be achieved by the embodiments are not limited to the above-described
objects, and objects not described may be clearly understood by those skilled in the
art to which the embodiments belong from the present specification and the accompanying
drawings.
SOLUTION TO PROBLEM
[0006] An embodiment provides a filter included in an aerosol-generating article and including
a first filter segment including a first filter element in which at least one heterogeneous
material particle is contained, a second filter segment including a second filter
element, and a wrapper wrapping the first filter segment and the second filter segment,
wherein the first filter segment and the second filter segment are aligned in a longitudinal
direction of the filter, and the first filter segment and the second filter segment
are not physically separated.
[0007] Another embodiment provides an aerosol-generating article including the filter according
to the embodiment.
[0008] Another embodiment provides a filter manufacturing method including a first operation
of transporting a filter tow in one direction, a second operation of manufacturing
a filter tow into which at least one heterogeneous material particle is injected at
a preset length interval by injecting the heterogeneous material particle with a preset
weight into the filter tow being transported at a preset period, a third operation
of wrapping the filter tow into which the heterogeneous material particle is injected
at the preset length interval with a wrapper, and a fourth operation of cutting the
filter tow wrapped with the wrapper into filters each including the heterogeneous
material particles.
[0009] Means for achieving the objects are not limited to the above description and may
include all matters that may be inferred by those skilled in the art throughout the
present specification.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF DISCLOSURE
[0010] In a filter manufacturing method according to the embodiments, a process may be simplified
compared to the known method of manufacturing a filter including heterogeneous material
particles, and thus manufacturing time may be reduced. Respective segments of a manufactured
filter are not physically separated from each other, and thus, variations that may
occur in physical properties, such as suction resistance, the length, and the circumference
of the filter, may be reduced.
[0011] In addition, unlike the known composite filter including heterogeneous material particles,
the present disclosure may perform wrapping by using only one wrapper, and thus, manufacturing
cost may be reduced, and energy consumed to form perforations may be reduced.
[0012] Effects of the embodiments are not limited to the effects described above and may
include all effects that may be inferred from configurations to be described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a known composite filter including heterogeneous
material particles.
FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a process of manufacturing a known composite
filter.
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a filter according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a process of manufacturing a filter, according
to an embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a filter, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6A illustrates a process of manufacturing a filter, according to an embodiment.
FIG. 6B illustrates a process of manufacturing a filter, according to another embodiment.
BEST MODE
[0014] One embodiment provides a filter included in an aerosol-generating article and comprising
a first filter segment including a first filter element in which at least one heterogeneous
material particle is contained, a second filter segment including a second filter
element, and a wrapper wrapping the first filter segment and the second filter segment,
wherein the first filter segment and the second filter segment are aligned in a longitudinal
direction of the filter, and the first filter segment and the second filter segment
are not physically separated.
[0015] The heterogeneous material particle may be at least one selected from a group consisting
of activated carbon particles and tobacco particles.
[0016] The heterogeneous material particle may include activated carbon particles, and the
first filter segment filter may include the activated carbon particles of 0.5 mg/mm
to 5 mg/mm in the longitudinal direction of the filter.
[0017] The heterogeneous material particle may have diameters of 0.1 to 0.7 mm.
[0018] The first filter segment and the second filter segment may have a length ratio of
1:0.5 to 1.5 in the longitudinal direction of the filter.
[0019] The wrapper may include at least one perforation.
[0020] Another embodiment provides an aerosol-generating article including the filter according
to the embodiment.
[0021] Another embodiment provides a filter manufacturing method comprising a first operation
of transporting a filter tow in one direction, a second operation of manufacturing
a filter tow into which at least one heterogeneous material particle is injected at
a preset length interval by injecting the heterogeneous material particle with a preset
weight into the filter tow being transported at a preset period, a third operation
of wrapping the filter tow into which the heterogeneous material particle is injected
at the preset length interval with a wrapper, and a fourth operation of cutting the
filter tow wrapped with the wrapper into filters each including the heterogeneous
material particle.
[0022] The heterogeneous material particle may be selected from a group consisting of activated
carbon particles and tobacco particles.
[0023] The heterogeneous material particle may include activated carbon particles, and the
preset weight may be 0.5 mg/mm to 5 mg/mm in a longitudinal direction of the filter
tow.
[0024] The heterogeneous material particle may have diameters of 0.1 to 0.7 mm.
[0025] The preset length interval may be 5 to 30 mm.
[0026] The second operation may include an operation of manufacturing the filter tow into
which the at least one heterogeneous material particle is injected at the preset length
interval by injecting at least one heterogeneous material particle with the preset
weight into the filter tow being transported at the preset period, and an operation
of causing the filter tow into which the at least one heterogeneous material particle
is injected at the preset length interval to pass through a compressor and compressing
the filter tow.
[0027] The second operation may include an operation of manufacturing a compressed filter
tow by passing the filter tow through the compressor, an operation of manufacturing
the filter tow into which the at least one heterogeneous material particle is injected
at the preset length interval by injecting the heterogeneous material particle with
the preset weight into the filter tow being transported at the preset period, and
an operation of dispersing the heterogeneous material particle into the filter tow
by spraying gas to the filter tow into which the heterogeneous material particle is
injected at the preset length interval.
[0028] The filter manufacturing method according to the embodiment may further comprise
a fifth operation of forming at least one perforation in the wrapper.
MODE OF DISCLOSURE
[0029] With respect to the terms used to describe in the various embodiments, the general
terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions
of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However,
meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence,
the appearance of a new technology, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, a
term which is not commonly used can be selected. In such a case, the meaning of the
term will be described in detail at the corresponding portion in the description of
the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in the various embodiments of the
present disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the descriptions
provided herein.
[0030] In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and
variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion
of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms
"-er", "-or", and "module" described in the specification mean units for processing
at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components
or software components and combinations thereof.
[0031] Also, as used herein, terms including an ordinal number such as "first" or "second"
may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited
by the terms. Terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component
from another component.
[0032] Throughout the specification, an "aerosol-generating article" means an article used
for smoking. For example, an aerosol-generating article may be a regular combustion
cigarette used in a manner that is ignited and combusted or may be a heated cigarette
used in a manner that is heated by an aerosol-generating device.
[0033] Throughout the specification, a "longitudinal direction of a filter" means a direction
in which a length of the filter extends.
[0034] Throughout the specification, a "tobacco material" means any form of material including
components derived from tobacco leaves.
[0035] Throughout the specification, a "filter element" means an element including a filtering
material. For example, the filter element may include a plurality of fiber strands.
[0036] Hereinafter, the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure
are shown such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily work the present disclosure.
The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.
[0037] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with
reference to the drawings.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of a known composite filter including heterogeneous
material particles, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an example of a process of manufacturing
a known composite filter.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 1, a known composite filter 100 including heterogeneous material
particles 2 includes only a first filter segment 110 including a filter element in
which the heterogeneous material particles 2 are contained and a second filter segment
120 including only a filter element. The filter element of the first filter segment
110 includes a plurality of fiber strands, and the heterogeneous material particles
2 may be randomly dispersed between the plurality of fiber strands.
[0040] The known composite filter 100 including the heterogeneous material particles 2 includes
a first inner wrapper 131 that wraps the first filter segment 110 and a second inner
wrapper 132 that wraps the second filter segment 120. In addition, the known composite
filter 100 including the heterogeneous material particles 2 includes an outer wrapper
133 that wraps both the first filter segment 110 wrapped by the first inner wrapper
131 and the second filter segment 120 wrapped by the second inner wrapper 132.
[0041] At least one perforation 140 may be formed in the outer wrapper 133 through which
outside air flows into the filter 100 or internal air flows out of the filter 100.
The same type of perforations may also be formed in positions of the first inner wrapper
131 or the second inner wrapper 132 corresponding to the at least one perforation
140 of the outer wrapper 133.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the known composite filter 100 including heterogeneous
material particles 2 is manufactured by bonding a filter including a filter element
in which the heterogeneous material particles 2 are contained to a filter including
only a filter element. That is, respective filters are manufactured through two processes
and two types of manufactured filters are bonded to each other through one process,
and thus, a total of three processes are required. There may be variations in physical
properties, such as suction resistance, the length, and the circumference of a filter,
manufactured through multiple processes. In addition, the time required for manufacturing
the filter may increase.
[0043] In addition, in manufacturing two types of filters, two wrappers are used for the
two types of filters, and one wrapper is additionally used in the process of bonding
the two types of filters. Accordingly, the number of wrappers required for manufacturing
the filter is unnecessarily increased, which causes an increase in manufacturing cost.
[0044] Here, the perforations 140 of the wrappers are formed by a mechanical method, such
as laser etching, and the known composite filter 100 including the heterogeneous material
particles 2 is wrapped by overlapped multiple layers of wrappers, and thus, much energy
may be unnecessarily consumed in forming the perforations 140.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a filter according to an embodiment, and FIG. 4 is
a view illustrating an example of a process of manufacturing a filter, according to
an embodiment.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 3, a filter 200 according to an embodiment includes a first filter
segment 210 including a first filter element in which at least one heterogeneous material
particle 2 is contained and a second filter segment 220 including a second filter
element. The first filter segment 210 and the second filter segment 220 may be aligned
in a longitudinal direction of the filter 200.
[0047] The filter 200 according to an embodiment may be included in an aerosol-generating
article (not illustrated). The filter 200 may be included at one end of the aerosol-generating
article, the generated aerosol may pass through the first filter segment 210 and the
second filter segment 220 to form an airflow, and thus, a smoker may inhale the aerosol
from the second filter segment 220.
[0048] The first filter segment 210 may include a first filter element in which at least
one heterogeneous material particle 2 is contained. The at least one heterogeneous
material particle 2 may be randomly dispersed inside and outside the first filter
segment 210.
[0049] The heterogeneous material particle 2 may include at least one selected from a group
consisting of activated carbon particles and tobacco particles and may include activated
carbon. Activated carbon may be included in the filter 200 to adsorb gaseous materials
based on strong adsorbability thereof and may be mainly used together with cellulose
acetate fibers that filter out particulate materials, thereby performing a complementary
function.
[0050] Tobacco particles may include particles including tobacco material. The tobacco material
may include, for example, a tobacco leaf, a tobacco lateral vein, puffed tobacco,
cut tobacco, cut plate leaf, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, and combinations
thereof. When the filter 200 including the first filter segment 210 in which tobacco
particles are included is applied to an aerosol-generating article, nicotine may be
generated from the tobacco particles by a high-temperature aerosol passing through
the filter 200, and a taste of smoke may be increased.
[0051] In an embodiment, the heterogeneous material particles 2 may include activated carbon
particles, and the first filter segment 210 may include activated carbon particles
of about 0.5 mg/mm to about 5 mg/mm in a longitudinal direction of the filter. When
the first filter segment 210 includes activated carbon particles with a weight in
the numerical range described above, the filter 200 may have an appropriate suction
resistance and have an increased adsorption effect of a gaseous material due to the
activated carbon particles. The first filter segment 210 may include activated carbon
particles of about 1 mg/mm to about 4 mg/mm in a longitudinal direction of the filter
and include activated carbon particles of about 1.5 mg/mm to about 5 mg/mm.
[0052] The heterogeneous material particles 2 may each have a diameter of about 0.1 mm to
about 0.7 mm. As the heterogeneous material particles 2 each have a diameter in the
range described above, the heterogeneous material particles 2 may be uniformly distributed
throughout the first filter element and at the same time, deviation of a circumference
measured in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first filter
segment 210 may be reduced. When diameters of the heterogeneous material particles
2 are less than 0.1 mm, the heterogeneous material particles 2 may be aggregated so
as not to be uniformly distributed throughout the first filter element. In addition,
when the diameters of the heterogeneous material particles 2 exceed about 0.7 mm,
deviation of a circumference measured in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal
direction of the first filter segment 210 may increase. In addition, as the diameters
of the heterogeneous material particles increase, weights of heterogeneous material
particles increase, and thus, the heterogeneous materials may fall off the filter
without being safely placed thereon, which may increase a weight of the filter and
variation in suction resistance. The heterogeneous material particle 2 may have diameters
of about 0.1 mm to about 0.7 mm, for example, about 0.15 mm to about 0.6 mm.
[0053] The first filter segment 210 may not be physically separated from the second filter
segment 220. Here, "not physically separated" means that respective filter elements
included in the first filter segment 210 and the second filter segment 220 are not
bonded to each other in a separate state. That is, the first filter element and the
second filter element may differ from each other only in whether the heterogeneous
material particles 2 are included therein and may include the same filter material.
For example, the first filter element of the first filter segment 210 and the second
filter element of the second filter segment 220 may include the same fiber strands,
and the fiber strands may extend from one end of the filter 200 to the other end thereof.
The first filter element and the second filter element may include cellulose acetate
fibers but are not limited thereto and may include various types of filter materials
known in the art.
[0054] The filter 200 may include a wrapper 230 wrapping the first filter segment 210 and
the second filter segment 220. The wrapper 230 may include at least one perforation
240. Positions in which the at least one perforation 240 is formed may be appropriately
adjusted according to characteristics of the aerosol-generating article to which the
filter 200 is applied. For example, the at least one perforation 240 may be formed
in positions corresponding to the first filter segment 210 to achieve a high aerosol
dilution rate but is not limited thereto.
[0055] The first filter segment 210 and the second filter segment 220 may have a length
ratio of 1:0.5 to 1.5 in a longitudinal direction of the filter 200.
[0056] As the first filter segment 210 and the second filter segment 220 have a length ratio
in the numerical range described above, the filter 200 may have appropriate suction
resistance. The first filter segment 210 and the second filter segment 220 may have
a length ratio of 1:0.6 to 1.4, for example, 1:0.7 to 1.3, in the longitudinal direction
of the filter 200.
[0057] The first filter segment 210 and the second filter segment 220 may each have a length
of about 5 mm to about 30 mm in the longitudinal direction of the filter 200. Also,
the first filter segment 210 and the second filter segment 220 may each have a length
of about 6 mm to about 18 mm. For example, the first filter segment 210 may have a
length of about 15 mm, and the second filter segment 220 may have a length of about
12 mm. In another example, the first filter segment 210 may have a length of about
12 mm, and the second filter segment 220 may have a length of about 15 mm.
[0058] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the filter 200 according to an embodiment is manufactured
by using a method by which a filter tow into which at least one heterogeneous material
particle 2 is injected at a preset length interval is manufactured and then the filter
tow is cut into a plurality of filters 200 each including the heterogeneous material
particles 2. Therefore, because the filter 200 is manufactured through only a process
of manufacturing a filter tow into which the heterogeneous material particles 2 are
injected at a preset length interval and a process of cutting the filter tow, a manufacturing
process may be simplified compared to the known composite filter 100 including the
heterogeneous material particles 2 described above, and thus, manufacturing time may
be reduced. Also, in the filter 200 according to an embodiment, the first filter segment
210 is not physically separated from the second filter segment 220, and thus, deviation
that may occur in physical properties, such as suction resistance, the length, and
the circumference of the filter 200, may be reduced.
[0059] In addition, unlike the known composite filter 100 including the heterogeneous material
particles 2 described above, packaging may be made by using only one wrapper 230,
and thus, manufacturing cost may be reduced, and energy consumed to form the at least
one perforation 240 may be reduced.
[0060] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method of manufacturing a filter, according to an embodiment.
[0061] Referring to FIG. 5, the method of manufacturing a filter may include a first operation
S110, a second operation S120, a third operation S130, and a fourth operation S140.
[0062] The method of manufacturing a filter, according to the embodiment, will be described
in detail with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B.
[0063] FIG. 6A illustrates a process of manufacturing a filter, according to an embodiment,
and FIG. 6B illustrates a process of manufacturing a filter, according to another
embodiment.
[0064] The first operation S110 is an operation of transporting a filter tow 1 in one direction.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the first operation S110, a filter tow 1 may be
fed into a transporter of a filter manufacturing apparatus to be transported in one
direction at a constant speed. The filter tow 1 may include, for example, a tow made
of cellulose acetate. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and may
include various types of tows known in the art.
[0066] In a detailed example, the first operation may be performed by providing the filter
tow 1 from a filter tow storage tank 10 in which the filter tow 1 is stored to the
transporter. Here, the transporter may include at least one rollers 21, 22, and 23.
The rollers 21, 22, and 23 may appropriately adjust a transport speed of the provided
filter tow 1 such that respective fibers constituting the filter tow 1 may maintain
a constant arrangement during transport.
[0067] The rollers 21, 22, 23 may include pairs of rollers 21, 22, and 23 arranged in a
direction perpendicular to a transport direction of the filter tow 1, as illustrated
in FIGS. 6A and 6B. The pairs of rollers 21, 22, and 23 may transport the provided
filter tow 1 in one direction by rotating in opposite directions to each other.
[0068] For example, the pairs of rollers 21, 22, and 23 may include the rollers 21, 22,
and 23 of which surfaces in contact with the filter tow 1 are formed of a rubber material
and the rollers 21, 22, and 23 having a plurality of grooves formed at regular intervals
in surfaces thereof in contact with the filter tow 1. The rollers 21, 22, and 23 of
which surfaces are formed of a rubber material may transport the filter tow 1 by using
friction with the filter tow 1. The rollers 21, 22, and 23 having a plurality of grooves
formed at regular intervals in surfaces thereof allow fibers to maintain a uniform
arrangement while the filter tow 1 is transported.
[0069] The method of manufacturing a filter, according to the embodiment, may further include
an operation of adding a plasticizer to the filter tow 1 being transported. Referring
to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the filter tow 1 transported by the transport rollers 21, 22,
and 23 may pass through a plasticizer injector 30. The plasticizer injector 30 may
spray a plasticizer onto a surface of the filter tow 1 being transported.
[0070] The plasticizer may aggregate a plurality of fiber strands of the filter tow 1, and
as the plurality of fiber strands are aggregated, the heterogeneous material particles
2 injected in a subsequent operation do not fall off from the filter tow 1 and maintain
positions thereof. The plasticizer may include at least one materials selected from
a group consisting of triacetin, triethyl citrate, and polyethylene glycol but is
not limited thereto and may include various types of filter materials known in the
art.
[0071] In the second operation S120, the filter tow 1 into which the heterogeneous material
particles 2 are injected at a preset length interval is manufactured by injecting
at least one heterogeneous material particle 2 with a preset weight into the filter
tow 1 being transported at a preset period.
[0072] The heterogeneous material particles 2 may include at least one selected from a group
consisting of activated carbon particles and tobacco particles and may include activated
carbon. Activated carbon may be included in a filter to adsorb gaseous materials based
on strong adsorbability thereof and may be mainly used together with cellulose acetate
fibers that filter out particulate materials, thereby performing a complementary function.
[0073] Tobacco particles may include particles including tobacco material. The tobacco material
may include, for example, a tobacco leaf, a tobacco lateral vein, puffed tobacco,
cut tobacco, cut plate leaf, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, and combinations
thereof. When a filter including tobacco particles is applied to an aerosol-generating
article, nicotine may be generated from the tobacco particles by a high-temperature
aerosol passing through the filter 200, and a taste of smoke may be increased.
[0074] The second operation S120 may be performed by injecting the heterogeneous material
particles 2 with a preset weight at a preset period into the filter tow 1 being transported
at a fixed position. When the heterogeneous material particles 2 are repeatedly injected
at a constant period at a fixed position, a portion including the heterogeneous material
particles 2 and a portion that does not include the heterogeneous material particles
2 are repeatedly formed at regular length intervals in the filter tow 1 being transported.
The injected heterogeneous material particles 2 may be randomly arranged between the
plurality of fiber strands of the filter tow 1.
[0075] In a detailed example, referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the heterogeneous material particles
2 may be stored in a heterogeneous material particle storage tank 40 and may be injected
into the filter tow 1 being transported from the heterogeneous material particle storage
tank 40 by the heterogeneous material particle injector 41. The heterogeneous material
particle injector 41 may be in the form of a gear wheel in which a plurality of grooves
capable of accommodating the heterogeneous material particles 2 with a preset weight
are formed at regular intervals. The heterogeneous material particle injector 41 in
the form of a gear wheel may be provided at a lower portion of the heterogeneous material
particle storage tank 40. As the heterogeneous material particle injector 41 in the
form of a gear wheel accommodates the heterogeneous material particles 2 with a preset
weight in the grooves formed at regular intervals and rotates, the heterogeneous material
particles 2 may freely fall toward the filter tow 1 being transported.
[0076] Here, the preset period may mean a time interval between points in time when the
heterogeneous material particles 2 start to be injected. The preset period may be
adjusted by intervals between the plurality of grooves formed in the heterogeneous
material particle injector 41 in the form of a gear wheel and a rotation speed of
the heterogeneous material particle injector 41. For example, as the intervals between
the plurality of grooves formed in the heterogeneous material particle injector 41
in the form of a gear wheel increases, the preset period may also increase. In addition,
as the rotation speed of the heterogeneous material particle injector 41 increases,
the preset period may be reduced.
[0077] The preset weight may mean a weight of the heterogeneous material particles 2 that
are injected during injection of the heterogeneous material particles 2 once. For
example, the preset weight may mean a weight of the heterogeneous material particle
2 accommodated in grooves of the heterogeneous material particle injector 41 in the
form of a gear wheel.
[0078] In an embodiment, the heterogeneous material particles 2 may include activated carbon
particles, and the preset weight may be about 0.5 mg/mm to about 5 mg/mm in a longitudinal
direction of a filter tow. Here, the longitudinal direction of the filter tow refers
to a direction in which a length of the filter tow extends. When the preset weight
is in the numerical range described above, a manufactured filter may have an appropriate
suction resistance, and at the same time, an adsorption effect of a gaseous material
due to activated carbon particles may be increased. The preset weight may be about
1 mg/mm to about 4 mg/mm in a longitudinal direction of a filter tow, and for example,
about 1.5 mg/mm to about 5 mg/mm.
[0079] The heterogeneous material particles 2 may have diameters of about 0.1 mm to about
0.7 mm. As the heterogeneous material particles 2 have diameters in the range described
above, the heterogeneous material particles 2 may be uniformly distributed in the
filter tow 1, and at the same time, deviation of a circumference measured in a direction
perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a filter may be reduced. When diameters
of the heterogeneous material particles 2 are less than 0.1 mm, the heterogeneous
material particles 2 may be aggregated so as not to be uniformly distributed in the
filter tow 1. In addition, when the diameters of the heterogeneous material particles
2 exceed about 0.7 mm, deviation of a circumference measured in a direction perpendicular
to a longitudinal direction of a manufactured filter may increase. In addition, as
the diameters of the heterogeneous material particles increase, weights of heterogeneous
material particles increase, and thus, the heterogeneous materials may fall off the
filter without being safely placed thereon, which may increase a weight of the filter
and variation in suction resistance. The heterogeneous material particle 2 may have
diameters of about 0.1 mm to about 0.7 mm, for example, about 0.15 mm to about 0.6
mm.
[0080] Here, a preset length interval may mean a distance (that is, a length of a portion
that does not include the heterogeneous material particles 2) between portions including
the heterogeneous material particles 2. The preset length interval may be changed
by adjusting a transport speed and a free fall distance of the filter tow 1. For example,
as the transport speed of the filter tow 1 increases, a length of a portion including
the heterogeneous material particles 2 may increase, and the distance between the
portions including the heterogeneous material particles 2 may also increase. In addition,
as the free fall distance increases, the length of the portion including the heterogeneous
material particles 2 may increase, and the distance between the portions including
the heterogeneous material particles 2 may be reduced.
[0081] For example, the preset length interval may be about 5 mm to about 30 mm. That is,
the length of the portion that does not include the heterogeneous material particles
2 may be about 5 mm to about 30 mm. Here, the length of the portion including the
heterogeneous material particles 2 may be about 5 mm to about 30 mm.
[0082] The portion including the heterogeneous material particles 2 and the portion that
does not include the heterogeneous material particles 2 may have a length ratio of
1:0.5 to 1.5. By having a length ratio in the numerical range described above, a manufactured
filter may have an appropriate suction resistance. A filter may have a length ratio
of 1:0.6 to 1.4, for example, 1:0.7 to 1.3.
[0083] The second operation S120 may include an operation of manufacturing the filter tow
1 into which the heterogeneous material particles 2 are injected at a preset length
interval by injecting at least one heterogeneous material particle 2 with a preset
weight into the filter tow 1 being transported at a preset period, and an operation
of causing the filter tow 1 into which the heterogeneous material particles 2 are
injected at a preset length interval to pass through a compressor 50 and compressing
the filter tow 1.
[0084] Referring to FIG. 6A, the filter tow 1 into which the heterogeneous material particles
2 are injected may pass through the compressor 50. The compressor 50 may provide more
uniform density of a tow by compressing the filter tow 1 into which the heterogeneous
material particles 2 are injected, and in a subsequent third operation of wrapping
the filter tow 1 with a wrapper (S130), it is possible to prevent a problem that the
wrapper is damaged by pressure transferred from a great thickness of the filter tow
1. The compressor 50 may include a compression jet but is not limited thereto, and
various types of compression devices known in the art may be used.
[0085] In addition, referring to FIG. 6B, the second operation S120 may include an operation
of manufacturing a compressed filter tow 1 by passing the filter tow 1 through the
compressor 50, an operation of manufacturing the filter tow 1 into which the heterogeneous
material particles 2 are injected at a preset length interval by injecting at least
one heterogeneous material particle 2 with a preset weight into the filter tow 1 being
transported at a preset period, and an operation of dispersing the at least one heterogeneous
material particle 2 into the filter tow 1 by spraying gas to the filter tow 1 into
which the heterogeneous material particle 2 is injected at a preset length interval.
[0086] When the filter tow 1 is compressed before the heterogeneous material particles 2
are injected thereinto, the heterogeneous material particles 2 may not be injected
into the filter tow 1 because the compressed filter tow 1 has a high density. Accordingly,
the operation of dispersing the heterogeneous material particles 2 into the filter
tow 1 by spraying gas to the filter tow 1 into which the heterogeneous material particles
2 are injected.
[0087] The operation of dispersing the heterogeneous material particles 2 into the filter
tow 1 by spraying gas may be performed by a gas sprayer 80 including an air jet, but
the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and various types of gas devices known
in the art may be used.
[0088] The third operation S130 is an operation of wrapping the filter tow 1 into which
the heterogeneous material particles 2 are injected at a preset length interval with
a wrapper.
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the filter tow 1 into which the heterogeneous material
particles 2 are injected at a preset length interval may be transported to a wrapping
machine 60. The wrapping machine 60 may wrap the outside of the filter tow 1 with
a wrapper. The wrapping machine 60 may wrap the filter tow 1 in a cylindrical shape
with a wrapper and may fix the wrapper by using an adhesive. For example, after wrapping
the filter tow 1 with a wrapper partially coated with a hot-melt adhesive, heat may
be applied to fix the wrapper, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto,
and various adhesives known in the art may be used.
[0090] The fourth operation S140 is an operation of cutting the filter tow 1 wrapped by
a wrapper into filters each including heterogeneous material particles 2.
[0091] Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the filter tow 1 wrapped by a wrapper may be transported
to a cutter 70. The cutter 70 may cut the filter tow 1 wrapped by a wrapper in a preset
length, and thus, filters may be manufactured. The cutter 70 may cut the filters to
respectively include the heterogeneous material particles 2. For example, as described
above with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the filter tow 1 may be cut to include the
first filter segment 210 including a first filter element in which at least one heterogeneous
material particle 2 is contained and the second filter segment 220 including a second
filter element.
[0092] The method of manufacturing a filter, according to the embodiment, may further include
a fifth operation of forming at least one perforation in a wrapper. For example, formation
of the perforations may be performed by using laser etching but is not limited thereto,
and various methods known in the art may be used. As described above, in a method
of manufacturing a filter according to an embodiment, the filter may be manufactured
by using only one wrapper without overlapping a plurality of wrappers, and thus, energy
consumed for forming the perforations may be reduced.
[0093] Those of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiments may understand
that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from
the scope of the characteristics described above. Therefore, the disclosed methods
should be considered in a descriptive point of view, not a restrictive point of view.
The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than
by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents
thereof should be construed as being included in the present disclosure.
1. A filter included in an aerosol-generating article, the filter comprising:
a first filter segment including a first filter element in which at least one heterogeneous
material particle is contained;
a second filter segment including a second filter element; and
a wrapper wrapping the first filter segment and the second filter segment,
wherein the first filter segment and the second filter segment are aligned in a longitudinal
direction of the filter, and
the first filter segment and the second filter segment are not physically separated.
2. The filter of claim 1, wherein the heterogeneous material particle is at least one
selected from a group consisting of activated carbon particles and tobacco particles.
3. The filter of claim 1, wherein
the heterogeneous material particle includes activated carbon particles, and
the first filter segment filter includes the activated carbon particles of 0.5 mg/mm
to 5 mg/mm in the longitudinal direction of the filter.
4. The filter of claim 1, wherein the heterogeneous material particle has a diameter
of 0.1 to 0.7 mm.
5. The filter of claim 1, wherein the first filter segment and the second filter segment
have a length ratio of 1:0.5 to 1.5 in the longitudinal direction of the filter.
6. The filter of claim 1, wherein the wrapper includes at least one perforation.
7. An aerosol-generating article comprising the filter of claim 1.
8. A filter manufacturing method comprising:
a first operation of transporting a filter tow in one direction;
a second operation of manufacturing a filter tow into which at least one heterogeneous
material particle is injected at a preset length interval by injecting the heterogeneous
material particle with a preset weight into the filter tow being transported at a
preset period;
a third operation of wrapping the filter tow into which the heterogeneous material
particle is injected at the preset length interval with a wrapper; and
a fourth operation of cutting the filter tow wrapped with the wrapper into filters
each including the heterogeneous material particle.
9. The filter manufacturing method of claim 8, wherein the heterogeneous material particle
is selected from a group consisting of activated carbon particles and tobacco particles.
10. The filter manufacturing method of claim 8, wherein
the heterogeneous material particle includes activated carbon particles, and
the preset weight is 0.5 mg/mm to 5 mg/mm in a longitudinal direction of the filter
tow.
11. The filter manufacturing method of claim 8, wherein the heterogeneous material particle
has a diameter of 0.1 to 0.7 mm.
12. The filter manufacturing method of claim 8, wherein the preset length interval is
5 to 30 mm.
13. The filter manufacturing method of claim 8, wherein the second operation includes
an operation of manufacturing the filter tow into which the at least one heterogeneous
material particle is injected at the preset length interval by injecting at least
one heterogeneous material particle with the preset weight into the filter tow being
transported at the preset period, and
an operation of causing the filter tow into which the at least one heterogeneous material
particle is injected at the preset length interval to pass through a compressor and
compressing the filter tow.
14. The filter manufacturing method of claim 8, wherein the second operation includes
an operation of manufacturing a compressed filter tow by passing the filter tow through
the compressor,
an operation of manufacturing the filter tow into which the at least one heterogeneous
material particle is injected at the preset length interval by injecting the heterogeneous
material particle with the preset weight into the filter tow being transported at
the preset period, and
an operation of dispersing the heterogeneous material particle into the filter tow
by spraying gas to the filter tow into which the heterogeneous material particle is
injected at the preset length interval.
15. The filter manufacturing method of claim 8, further comprising a fifth operation of
forming at least one perforation in the wrapper.