US 9,179,709 B2 · Mixed fiber sliver for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements

Abstract

Smoking articles including filter elements formed from two or more fibrous inputs with different physical properties are provided. The two or more fibrous inputs are provided in the form of staple fibers, which are at least partially entangled with each other to form a mixed fiber sliver. The mixed fiber sliver includes a first plurality of cellulose acetate staple fibers blended with a second plurality of staple fibers comprising a polymeric material different from the first plurality of staple fibers, such as staple fibers of a degradable polymeric material. The entangled fibers of the mixed fiber sliver may be sufficiently separated from one another such that blooming operations typically required in filter element production may not be necessary prior to incorporating the mixed fiber sliver into a filter element. Related methods, apparatuses and mixed fiber products are also provided by the disclosure.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method for forming a fibrous bundle suitable for use in a filter element for a smoking article, the method comprising:

blending a first plurality of cellulose acetate staple fibers with a second plurality of staple fibers comprising a polymeric material different from the first plurality of staple fibers to give a fiber mixture;
carding the fiber mixture to provide a mixed fiber sliver;
and
drafting the mixed fiber sliver to adjust the denier of the mixed fiber sliver, strengthening the mixed fiber sliver by air entangling or incorporating a core yarn or textured yarn into the mixed fiber sliver, or performing both said drafting and said strengthening of the mixed fiber sliver,
wherein the mixed fiber sliver has a total denier in the range of from about 20,000 denier to about 80,000 denier.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Mixed fiber sliver for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements

Life of this patent

Mixed fiber sliver for use in the manufacture of cigarette filter elements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31