# US 2014/0196729 A1 · Methods of manufacturing cigarettes and filter subassemblies with squeezable flavor capsule

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- Number: US 2014/0196729 A1
- Document ID: US20140196729A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/218,208
- Filed: 2014-03-18
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-26
- Assignees: Philip Morris USA Inc.
- Applicants: Philip Morris USA Inc.
- Inventors: Ahmet ERCELEBI; Martin T. Garthaffner; Dwight D. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196729A1

## CPC

- A24D 3/048: {containing additives}
- A24D 3/0216: {the additive being in the form of capsules, beads or the like}
- A24D 3/0225: {with solid additives, e.g. incorporation of a granular product (A24D3/0216 takes precedence)}
- A24D 3/0254: {Cutting means}
- A24D 3/0287: {for composite filters}
- A24D 3/061: {containing additives entrapped within capsules, sponge-like material or the like, for further release upon smoking}
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 29/49885: with coating before or during assembling
- A24D: CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A cigarette filter subassembly is manufactured from a filter member having absorbent material encased within an outer cover. A plunger is passed axially through the absorbent material such that a pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly against the cover to form a liner of compressed absorbent material along the cover's inside surface. An inner surface of the liner surrounds a hollow axial opening which is to receive absorbent members and capsules inserted axially therein. The capsules are adapted to be broken by a smoker to release an additive material which modifies characteristics of tobacco smoke. An outer cylindrical surface of the plunger optionally carries a transferable binder material that becomes smeared onto the inner surface of the liner to form thereon a coating which is impermeable to the additive material released from the capsule.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dual-filter structure formed by a method comprising the steps of:
A. providing a filter member comprised of absorbent material surrounded by a cover, the filter member defining a longitudinal center axis;
B. passing a plunger axially through the absorbent material such that a generally pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly, wherein the displaced absorbent material forms a liner along an inside surface of the cover and defines a hollow axial opening within the absorbent material;
C. axially inserting a series of absorbent members into the hollow space, with at least one capsule disposed between successive absorbent members, the capsule containing a releasable material for modifying characteristics of tobacco smoke during smoking, to form an elongate filter structure which is cut to suitable length, each length containing at least one absorbent member and at least one capsule;
D. cutting every other absorbent member in said series of absorbent members at its axial midpoint to provide two dual-filter structures, each of said dual-filter structures comprising, in series, one half of a first absorbent member of twice the length of the first absorbent member, a first capsule, a second absorbent member, a second capsule, and one half of a third absorbent member, all disposed within said outer cover.

### Claim 2

A quad subassembly formed by a method comprising the steps of:
A. providing a filter member comprised of absorbent material surrounded by a cover, the filter member defining a longitudinal center axis;
B. passing a plunger axially through the absorbent material such that a generally pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly, wherein the displaced absorbent material forms a liner along an inside surface of the cover and defines a hollow axial opening within the absorbent material;
C. axially inserting a series of absorbent members into the hollow space, with at least one capsule disposed between successive absorbent members, the capsule containing a releasable material for modifying characteristics of tobacco smoke during smoking, to form an elongate filter structure which is cut to suitable length, each length containing at least one absorbent member and at least one capsule;
D. cutting every other absorbent member in said series of absorbent members at its axial midpoint to provide two dual-filter structures, each of said dual-filter structures comprising, in series, one half of a first absorbent member of twice the length of the first absorbent member, a first capsule, a second absorbent member, a second capsule, and one half of a third absorbent member, all disposed within said outer cover;
E. providing a series of additional absorbent members, with one of said dual-filter structures being provided between adjacent additional absorbent members; and/or providing a quantity of activated carbon between each of said additional absorbent members and said adjacent dual-filter structure;
F. cutting every other one of said series of additional absorbent members substantially midway between adjacent dual-filter structures, said step of cutting producing quad subassemblies, each of said quad subassemblies comprising one half of a first additional absorbent member, a first quantity of activated carbon, a first dual-filter structure, a second quantity of activated carbon, a second additional absorbent member, a third quantity of activated carbon, a second dual-filter structure, a fourth quantity of activated carbon, and one half of a third additional absorbent member.

### Claim 3

An individual cigarette filter subassembly formed by a method comprising the steps of:
A. providing a filter member comprised of absorbent material surrounded by a cover, the filter member defining a longitudinal center axis;
B. passing a plunger axially through the absorbent material such that a generally pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly, wherein the displaced absorbent material forms a liner along an inside surface of the cover and defines a hollow axial opening within the absorbent material;
C. axially inserting a series of absorbent members into the hollow space, with at least one capsule disposed between successive absorbent members, the capsule containing a releasable material for modifying characteristics of tobacco smoke during smoking, to form an elongate filter structure which is cut to suitable length, each length containing at least one absorbent member and at least one capsule;
D. cutting every other absorbent member in said series of absorbent members at its axial midpoint to provide two dual-filter structures, each of said dual-filter structures comprising, in series, one half of a first absorbent member of twice the length of the first absorbent member, a first capsule, a second absorbent member, a second capsule, and one half of a third absorbent member, all disposed within said outer cover;
E. providing a series of additional absorbent members, with one of said dual-filter structures being provided between adjacent additional absorbent members; and/or providing a quantity of activated carbon between each of said additional absorbent members and said adjacent dual-filter structure;
F. cutting every other one of said series of additional absorbent members substantially midway between adjacent dual-filter structures, said step of cutting producing quad subassemblies, each of said quad subassemblies comprising one half of a first additional absorbent member, a first quantity of activated carbon, a first dual-filter structure, a second quantity of activated carbon, a second additional absorbent member, a third quantity of activated carbon, a second dual-filter structure, a fourth quantity of activated carbon, and one half of a third additional absorbent member;
G. cutting each of said dual-filter structures midway between adjacent capsules; and
H. cutting each of said second additional absorbent members midway between adjacent dual-filter structures, whereby an individual cigarette filter assembly is provided.

### Claim 4

A cigarette formed by a method comprising the steps of:
A. providing a filter member comprised of absorbent material surrounded by a cover, the filter member defining a longitudinal center axis;
B. passing a plunger axially through the absorbent material such that a generally pointed leading end of the plunger displaces the absorbent material radially outwardly, wherein the displaced absorbent material forms a liner along an inside surface of the cover and defines a hollow axial opening within the absorbent material;
C. axially inserting a series of absorbent members into the hollow space, with at least one capsule disposed between successive absorbent members, the capsule containing a releasable material for modifying characteristics of tobacco smoke during smoking, to form an elongate filter structure which is cut to suitable length, each length containing at least one absorbent member and at least one capsule;
D. cutting every other absorbent member in said series of absorbent members at its axial midpoint to provide two dual-filter structures, each of said dual-filter structures comprising, in series, one half of a first absorbent member of twice the length of the first absorbent member, a first capsule, a second absorbent member, a second capsule, and one half of a third absorbent member, all disposed within said outer cover;
E. providing a series of additional absorbent members, with one of said dual-filter structures being provided between adjacent additional absorbent members; and/or providing a quantity of activated carbon between each of said additional absorbent members and said adjacent dual-filter structure;
F. cutting every other one of said series of additional absorbent members substantially midway between adjacent dual-filter structures, said step of cutting producing quad subassemblies, each of said quad subassemblies comprising one half of a first additional absorbent member, a first quantity of activated carbon, a first dual-filter structure, a second quantity of activated carbon, a second additional absorbent member, a third quantity of activated carbon, a second dual-filter structure, a fourth quantity of activated carbon, and one half of a third additional absorbent member;
G. cutting each of said dual-filter structures midway between adjacent capsules;
H. cutting each of said second additional absorbent members midway between adjacent dual-filter structures, whereby an individual cigarette filter assembly is provided;
I. providing an additional absorbent member between adjacent pairs of said individual cigarette filter subassemblies to form a dual cigarette filter assembly;
J. providing a tobacco rod generally adjacent each end of said dual cigarette filter assembly;
K. joining the tobacco rods to the dual cigarette filter assembly with tipping paper; and
L. cutting said additional absorbent member substantially midway between said adjacent pairs of said individual cigarette filter subassemblies to form individual cigarettes.