Continuous process for surface modification of cigarette filter materials
AssigneePhilip Morris USA Inc.
InventorsGeorgios D. Karles, Yezdi B. Pithawalla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Process and apparatus are provided for depositing target materials onto the surface of a moving substrate which may be used in the preparation of composites, cigarette filters, cigarette wrapper, bandages, biomedical applications, cosmetic and cleaning materials, and the like. A moving substrate comprising a fibrous mat or paper passes through one or more reaction chambers each having hot and cold regions. At least one target material is positioned in the hot region, and a laser beam ablates the material thereby producing modified additive material. As the substrate moves through the cold region of the reaction chamber, the modified additive material adheres to the exposed surface of the substrate.
Claims24
An on line process for fabricating modified cigarette components by depositing target materials onto the surface of a moving substrate comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one reaction chamber having a hot region and a cold region;
- placing at least one target material in the hot region of the reaction chamber;
- continuously moving a flat planar substrate through the cold region of the reaction chamber;
- directing a laser beam onto the target material to ablate, evaporate or fragment the material and thereby producing modification additives from the target material;
- and
- generating a convection flow within the reaction chamber;
- and
- flowing the modification additives by the convection flow onto the surface of the substrate for adherence thereto.
A process for depositing target materials onto the surface of a moving substrate comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one reaction chamber having a hot region and a cold region;
- placing at least one target material in the hot region of the reaction chamber;
- continuously moving a substrate through the cold region of the reaction chamber;
- directing a laser beam onto the target material to ablate, evaporate or fragment the material and thereby producing modification additives from the target material;
- and
- flowing the modification additives onto the surface of the substrate for adherence thereto, and wherein the target material is organic.
A process for depositing target materials onto the surface of a moving substrate comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one reaction chamber having a hot region and a cold region;
- placing at least one target material in the hot region of the reaction chamber;
- continuously moving a substrate through the cold region of the reaction chamber;
- directing a laser beam onto the target material to ablate, evaporate or fragment the material and thereby producing modification additives from the target material;
- and
- flowing the modification additives onto the surface of the substrate for adherence thereto, and
- wherein the target material is a polymer mixed with a fine metal powder.
A process for depositing target materials onto the surface of a moving substrate comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one reaction chamber having a hot region and a cold region;
- placing at least one target material in the hot region of the reaction chamber;
- continuously moving a substrate through the cold region of the reaction chamber;
- directing a laser beam onto the target material to ablate, evaporate or fragment the material and thereby producing modification additives from the target material;
- and
- flowing the modification additives onto the surface of the substrate for adherence thereto, and wherein the target material is a carbohydrate based material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.