Laminated color-changing tipping paper, preparation method thereof and filter tip cigarette

Abstract

The invention discloses laminated color-changing tipping paper, a preparation method of the laminated color-changing tipping paper and a filter cigarette. The laminated color-changing tipping paper comprises a tipping paper base material, a bottom temperature-changing ink layer printed on the base material and an upper temperature-changing ink layer overprinted on the bottom layer. The first temperature change ink contained in the bottom layer is changed from a first state to a first color development state (such as colorless to blue) when a preset color change temperature is reached; and the second temperature change ink contained in the upper layer is changed from a second color development state to a second state (such as red to colorless) when reaching the same preset color change temperature. Through the structure, the technical problems that existing temperature change tipping paper is single in color change effect and insufficient in color expressive force are solved, through the synergistic effect of the two kinds of temperature change ink with the opposite functions, switching type reversible conversion from one bright color to the other bright color is achieved, and novel visual interaction experience is brought to cigarette products.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of tobacco, more particularly, to a tipping paper with special visual effects applied to cigarette packaging, a preparation method thereof, and a filter cigarette using the tipping paper. BACKGROUND

[0002] Tipping paper is a special paper used to connect cigarette rods and filter rods, and is an important part of the appearance of cigarette products. With the intensification of market competition and the improvement of consumer individualization needs, designing novel visual elements on tipping paper has become an important means to improve product appeal and interactivity.

[0003] Temperature-variable ink, also known as thermochromic ink, is a special ink that can change color with temperature changes. Applying temperature-variable ink to tipping paper can cause the cigarette to change color under certain conditions (such as finger touch or proximity to a heat source), providing a novel interactive experience for consumers.

[0004] Currently, the main forms of temperature-variable ink application on the market are as follows: one is single decolorizing temperature-variable ink, which changes from colored to colorless (or transparent), and the color change effect is relatively monotonous; two is to mix decolorizing temperature-variable ink with a non-color-changing ordinary ink to achieve a change from one mixed color to another color. For example, CN110628268A discloses a temperature-variable ink that achieves a mutual change from one color to another color by mixing temperature-sensing color-changing powder (color-changing component) with non-color-changing color paste. However, in this mixing method, the presence of non-color-changing ink can affect the overall color saturation and brightness, and the freedom of color combination is limited, making it difficult to meet some high-demand color design schemes. In addition, existing technologies rarely involve the combined application of two or more temperature-variable inks.

[0005] Therefore, how to provide a laminated color-changing tipping paper that can achieve more rich and bright color changes and apply it to cigarette products has become a technical problem that needs to be solved in the field. SUMMARY

[0006] The purpose of the present application is to provide a laminated color-changing tipping paper, a preparation method thereof, and a filter cigarette using the tipping paper, aiming to solve the technical problems of single color change effect and insufficient color expression of existing temperature-variable tipping paper, and to bring a novel interactive experience to cigarette products.

[0007] The first aspect of the present application provides a laminated color-changing tipping paper, comprising: a tipping paper substrate; a bottom layer of temperature-variable ink printed on a predetermined area of the tipping paper substrate, the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink comprising a first temperature-variable ink, the first temperature-variable ink changing from a first state to a first developed color state when reaching a preset color-changing temperature; a top layer of temperature-variable ink superimposed on the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink, the top layer of temperature-variable ink comprising a second temperature-variable ink, the second temperature-variable ink changing from a second developed color state to a second state when reaching the preset color-changing temperature; wherein the preset color-changing temperature ranges of the first temperature-variable ink and the second temperature-variable ink are the same, and the first state and the second state are both colorless or transparent states, so that the switching from the second developed color state to the first developed color state is realized when the preset color-changing temperature is reached.

[0008] It can be seen that, by creatively superimposing a color-developing temperature-variable ink (changing from colorless / transparency to developed color) and a color-eliminating temperature-variable ink (changing from developed color to colorless / transparency), and unifying the color-changing temperatures of the two, the color of the top layer disappears at the same time as the color of the bottom layer appears when the color-changing temperature is reached, so that a "switching" change from one bright color to another bright color is realized, the problem of monotonous color-changing effect and low color saturation in the prior art is solved, and an interactive effect with great novelty and visual impact is brought.

[0009] Optionally, the preset color-changing temperature range is 45-50℃. Setting the color-changing temperature in this range can be activated by the temperature of the consumer's fingers for a long time, and can also be triggered by the heat of the smoke when the cigarette is smoked, which meets the use scenarios of the product.

[0010] Optionally, the first developed color state is blue and the second developed color state is red. This specific color combination provides an explicit and attractive visual change scheme.

[0011] Optionally, the temperature-variable ink can comprise paraffin as a temperature-sensitive substrate, crystal violet lactone as a main color-changing dye, and bisphenol S as a color-developing agent. The application of this specific component ensures the accurate occurrence of the color-changing behavior and provides an implementability guarantee for the technical solution of the present application.

[0012] The second aspect of the present application provides a preparation method of the laminated color-changing tipping paper of the first aspect of the present application, comprising the following steps: S1: printing a first temperature-variable ink on a predetermined area of a tipping paper substrate to form a bottom layer of temperature-variable ink by using a gravure printing method; S2: superimposing a second temperature-variable ink on the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink to form a top layer of temperature-variable ink; wherein the gravure printing uses an intaglio printing plate with a depth of 45-50μm.

[0013] It can be seen that the deeper the printing plate cell depth, the more the amount of ink transfer, and the thicker the ink layer. This not only enhances the upper layer of ink at room temperature hiding power, to ensure that the bottom color is not exposed, but also improves the color saturation of the bottom layer of ink after color change, so that the overall color change effect is more full and bright.

[0014] Optionally, the method further comprises an online detection step, thereby realizing online monitoring of product quality.

[0015] The third aspect of the present application provides a filter cigarette comprising a tobacco segment, a filter segment and a tipping paper connecting the tobacco segment and the filter segment, wherein the tipping paper is the laminated color-changing tipping paper according to any one of the first aspect of the present application.

[0016] It can be seen that the application of the laminated color-changing tipping paper to the filter cigarette can endow the traditional cigarette product with novel interactive function and visual attraction, improve the added value and market competitiveness of the product, and also serve as a unique anti-counterfeiting mark.

[0017] Other features of the present application, and their advantages, will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the application, together with the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the application.

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of the laminated color-changing tipping paper provided by the embodiments of the present application before and after temperature change.

[0020] Figure 2 is a filter cigarette applying the Figure 1 tipping paper shown in the drawing before and after temperature change.

[0021] Reference signs: 1, tipping paper substrate; 2, upper layer of temperature-changing ink; 3, bottom layer of temperature-changing ink; 4, filter segment; 5, tobacco segment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Various exemplary embodiments of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the relative arrangement, numerical expressions and values of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments are not limiting to the scope of the present application unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0023] The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way limiting to the scope of the application or its applications or uses.

[0024] Techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art can not be discussed in detail herein. However, where appropriate, the techniques, methods, and apparatus should be considered as being part of the description of the application.

[0025] In all of the examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not limiting. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments can have different values.

[0026] It should be noted that like reference numerals and letters refer to like items throughout the drawings, and once an item is defined in one drawing, it need not be discussed further in subsequent drawings.

[0027] Embodiment One: Laminated Color Changing Tipping Paper

[0028] The present application provides a novel laminated color changing tipping paper. The core idea is to print two kinds of functional opposite but same color changing temperature point thermochromic inks in the same area of the tipping paper, one layer is "color appearing type" (color appears when temperature rises), and the other layer is "color disappearing type" (color disappears when temperature rises), so as to realize the overall appearance change from color A to color B.

[0029] Please refer to Figure 1 which shows a preferred embodiment of the laminated color changing tipping paper of the present application. The tipping paper mainly comprises a tipping paper substrate 1 as the printing base, and a thermochromic area arranged on the tipping paper substrate 1. The structure of the thermochromic area comprises a bottom thermochromic ink layer 3 and an upper thermochromic ink layer 2 printed in turn from bottom to top.

[0030] The tipping paper substrate 1 is the base to carry the ink layer, and can adopt conventional cigarette tipping paper base paper in the art, without special limitation on its physical properties and chemical components.

[0031] The bottom thermochromic ink layer 3 is formed on the thermochromic area of the tipping paper substrate 1 by printing process. The layer is composed of a first thermochromic ink. The first thermochromic ink is a "color appearing type" or "positive color appearing" thermochromic ink, which has the characteristics of presenting a first state at normal temperature (below the preset color changing temperature), usually colorless, transparent or very light color; when the temperature rises and reaches the preset color changing temperature, the chemical or physical structure inside the ink changes, so as to change into a first color appearing state with clear color. In the preferred embodiment, the first thermochromic ink is colorless at normal temperature, and appears sky blue when reaching 45-50°C.

[0032] The upper temperature-variable ink layer 2 is printed on the same area of the lower temperature-variable ink layer 3 by a printing process, completely or partially covering the lower layer. This layer is composed of a second temperature-variable ink. The second temperature-variable ink is a "color-eliminating type" or "reverse color-developing" temperature-variable ink, which has opposite characteristics to the first temperature-variable ink, i.e., it presents a second color-developing state with a clear color at room temperature; when the temperature rises and reaches the preset color-changing temperature, its color disappears and changes to a second state, usually colorless or transparent. In this preferred embodiment, the second temperature-variable ink is reddish at room temperature, and becomes colorless when it reaches 45-50°C.

[0033] The key point is that the preset color-changing temperature ranges of the first and second temperature-variable inks are set to be the same or substantially coincide, for example, both are 45-50°C.

[0034] Example 2: Preparation method

[0035] The preparation method of the layered color-changing tipping paper of the present application is described in detail below. The preparation method of the present application mainly includes the steps of plate making, ink adjustment, printing, and post-printing treatment.

[0036] Step 1: Plate making. According to the design pattern of the product and the determined temperature-variable area, a printing plate for printing is prepared. Preferably, a gravure printing process is used. In order to increase the thickness of the ink layer and obtain more saturated and bright color performance, the gravure plate cell depth in this embodiment is specially designed to be 45-50μm, which is deeper than the conventional 35-40μm, and can ensure that more ink is transferred to the tipping paper substrate 1 during printing.

[0037] Step 2: Ink preparation. The first temperature-variable ink (e.g., colorless to sky blue, color-changing temperature 45-50°C) and the second temperature-variable ink (e.g., reddish to colorless, color-changing temperature 45-50°C) are prepared respectively. The main components of the temperature-variable ink can include leuco dye, color developer, solvent / resin matrix, etc.

[0038] As a preferred embodiment, the temperature-variable ink can contain the following components:

[0039] Ingredient Function Mass percent Crystal violet lactone (CVL) Primary color change dye 1％～3％ Bisphenol S (BPS) Color developer (acid donor) 2％～5％ Paraffin wax (melting range 42-44°C) Temperature sensitive base 60％～70％ Stearic acid pH adjustment / assisted melting 5％～8％ Phthalocyanine blue (trace) Cyan blue enhancement 0.1％～0.5％ Acid red (azo) Light red color development assistance 0.05％～0.2％

[0040] The paraffin in the above formula serves as a temperature-sensitive matrix, and its melting range (42-44°C) is highly matched with the preset color-changing temperature range (45-50°C) required by the present application, which can ensure the accurate occurrence of color-changing behavior. Crystal violet lactone and bisphenol S serve as the core color-changing dye and color developer, respectively. By adjusting the ratio of auxiliary colorants such as phthalocyanine blue and acid red, the first temperature-variable ink (colorless to sky blue) and the second temperature-variable ink (reddish to colorless) required by the present application can be obtained, respectively. The disclosure of this specific formula further proves the feasibility of the technical solution of the present application.

[0041] Step three: printing. Printing is carried out on a gravure printing machine. First, using the first printing plate, the prepared first thermochromic ink (non-color-changing sky blue) is printed on the tipping paper substrate 1 to form the bottom thermochromic ink layer 3, and drying is carried out. Then, through the second printing unit, the second thermochromic ink (red to non-color-changing) is accurately overprinted on the already dried bottom thermochromic ink layer 3 using the second printing plate to form the upper thermochromic ink layer 2, and drying is carried out again. During printing, an online heating detection device can be set on the printing equipment, such as a temperature-controllable heating bearing on the post-printing conveying path, with its temperature set to 45-50°C. When the printed tipping paper passes through this heating device, the color-changing effect can be observed immediately, thereby realizing online monitoring of product quality.

[0042] Step four: post-printing processing. The printed large roll of tipping paper is cut and rewound to obtain the final product.

[0043] Example three: filter cigarette

[0044] The present application also provides a filter cigarette using the above-mentioned laminated color-changing tipping paper. Please refer to Figure 2 The structure of the filter cigarette is a conventional structure in the art, comprising a tobacco segment 5 and a filter segment 4. Its feature is that the tipping paper used to connect the tobacco segment 5 and the filter segment 4 together is the laminated color-changing tipping paper as described in Example one.

[0045] On a cigarette making machine, the tipping paper prepared in Example two is wound at the joint of the tobacco segment 5 and the filter segment 4 to form the final filter cigarette product. Due to the unique thermochromic area on the tipping paper, the whole cigarette presents different appearances at different temperatures.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 together to show the effect of the present application before and after temperature change.

[0047] Before temperature change (as shown in Figure 1 the upper part and Figure 2 the left side), the ambient temperature is lower than the preset color-changing temperature. At this time, the upper thermochromic ink layer 2 presents its developed color state (such as red), and covers the underlying bottom thermochromic ink layer 3, so the appearance of the thermochromic area of the tipping paper is red.

[0048] After temperature change (as shown in Figure 1 the lower part and Figure 2When the ambient temperature reaches the preset color change temperature (for example, by touching with a finger or approaching a heat source), the color of the upper layer of temperature-variable ink layer 2 fades to colorless and no longer blocks the view of the lower layer, as shown on the right side of the figure. At the same time, the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink layer 3 appears in its color-developed state (for example, sky blue). Thus, the appearance of the temperature-variable region of the tipping paper switches from red to sky blue.

[0049] When the temperature drops below the preset color change temperature, both ink layers return to the initial state, and the overall appearance also returns from sky blue to red. Preferably, both temperature-variable inks are reversible temperature-variable inks, so that this process can be repeated. Because of the unique temperature-variable region on the tipping paper, the appearance of the entire cigarette changes from red to sky blue during the process of being touched by a consumer's finger or being smoked, thereby greatly improving the interactivity and attractiveness of the product.

[0050] In summary, the present application successfully realizes the reversible change from one bright color to another bright color on the tipping paper carrier by creatively combining the color-developed temperature-variable ink layer with the color-fading temperature-variable ink layer and unifying their color change temperature thresholds, and further applies this effect to the final filter cigarette product. This scheme not only has great novelty and impact in terms of vision, but also fundamentally solves the defect of insufficient color performance of traditional temperature-variable technology, provides a new idea and broad space for product design, and has significant progress and practical value.

[0051] Although some specific embodiments of the present application have been described in detail by examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are only for illustration, but not for limiting the scope of the present application. Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments can be modified without departing from the scope and spirit of the present application. The scope of the present application is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A laminated color-changing tipping paper, characterized in that, It comprises: a tipping paper substrate (1); a bottom layer of temperature-variable ink (3) printed on a predetermined area of the tipping paper substrate (1), the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink (3) comprising a first temperature-variable ink which, when reaching a preset color-changing temperature, changes from a first state to a first developed color state; a top layer of temperature-variable ink (2) overprinted on the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink (3), the top layer of temperature-variable ink (2) comprising a second temperature-variable ink which, when reaching the preset color-changing temperature, changes from a second developed color state to a second state; wherein the preset color-changing temperature range of the first temperature-variable ink and the second temperature-variable ink is the same, and the first state and the second state are both colorless or transparent states, so as to realize the switching from the second developed color state to the first developed color state when reaching the preset color-changing temperature.

2. The laminated color-changing tipping paper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset color-changing temperature range is 45-50℃.

3. The laminated color-changing tipping paper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first developed color state is blue, and the second developed color state is red.

4. The laminated color-changing tipping paper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first temperature-variable ink and / or the second temperature-variable ink comprises paraffin as a temperature-sensitive substrate.

5. The laminated color-changing tipping paper according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first temperature-variable ink and / or the second temperature-variable ink further comprises crystal violet lactone as a main color-changing dye and bisphenol S as a color-developing agent.

6. A method of producing the laminated color-changing tipping paper according to claim 1, characterized by, It comprises the following steps: S1: printing the first temperature-variable ink on a predetermined area of the tipping paper substrate (1) to form a bottom layer of temperature-variable ink (3) by using gravure printing; S2: overprinting the second temperature-variable ink on the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink (3) to form a top layer of temperature-variable ink (2); wherein the gravure printing uses an intaglio plate with a depth of 45-50μm.

7. The preparation method according to claim 6, characterized in that, It further comprises step S3: after the formation of the top layer of temperature-variable ink (2), heating the layered color-changing tipping paper to the preset color-changing temperature by a heating device to detect the color-changing effect online.

8. A filter cigarette, characterized by It comprises a tobacco rod (5), a filter rod (4), and a tipping paper connecting the tobacco rod (5) and the filter rod (4), wherein the tipping paper is the layered color-changing tipping paper according to any one of claims 1-5.

9. A filter cigarette according to claim 8, characterised in that, The preset color-changing temperature range of the tipping paper is 45-50℃.

10. A filter cigarette according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that, The first developed color state of the bottom layer of temperature-variable ink (3) of the tipping paper is blue, and the second developed color state of the top layer of temperature-variable ink (2) is red.

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