US 9,788,572 B2 · Method and apparatus for manufacture of smoking article filter assembly including electrostatically charged fibers

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for making a cigarette filter assembly for potentially reducing particle breakthrough. The method includes forming a lofty porous network of charge retaining polymer fibers by mechanical, chemical or thermal bonding of the fibers, wrapping the lofty porous network in a cylindrical or tubular shape with optional mediating filter fibers in a filter paper to form a filter plug while maintaining the lofty structure. The charge retaining fibers can be charged to attract and hold particles from such sources as particulate matter from sorbents (preventing break-through), and smoke constituents while having a suitable pressure drop. The apparatus handles the lofty media with minimal crushing, for example, by spacing apart delivery rolls equipped with protrusions to punch, push, and/or pull the lofty media ahead for high speed operation.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for manufacturing a filter assembly for a smoking article comprising:

a source of lofty porous network of charge retaining polymer fibers for forming into a filter rod having a pressure drop;
first and second rollers to move the lofty porous network through a gap defined between faces of the first and second rollers to a wrapping unit, wherein the first and second rollers move the lofty porous network through the gap without substantially crushing the lofty porous network;
a wrapping unit to pre-form a filter wrap into a cylindrical tube for surrounding the lofty porous network to form the filter rod, wherein the lofty porous network is pulled into the preformed cylindrical tube to fill the pre-formed tube with the lofty porous network;
a charging unit to charge the charge retaining polymer fibers before or after passing the first and second rollers or the wrapping unit;
and
a cutting unit to cut the filled preformed cylindrical tube to a predetermined length.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for manufacture of smoking article filter assembly including electrostatically charged fibers

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for manufacture of smoking article filter assembly including electrostatically charged fibers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19