Cigarette filters and smoking articles containing them

Abstract

A cigarette filter with superior aesthetic appearance is disclosed. In one view, the cigarette filter comprises a paper sheet containing pulp fibers, wherein the bulk of the paper sheet is 2 to 4 cm 3 The present invention provides a tobacco filter comprising at least one of the following: single fibers with an average coarseness of 13 mg / 100 m or more, and mixed fibers including subpulp fibers and regenerated fibers.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a tobacco filter, and more specifically to a tobacco filter, a smoking article containing the same, and an aerosol generating apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Tobacco filters can be broadly classified into cellulose acetate filters, paper filters, and charcoal filters. Generally manufactured cellulose acetate filters may contain cellulose acetate tow.

[0003] On the other hand, cellulose acetate filters were mainly used for cigarette filters, but they had the problem of reduced biodegradability. Paper filters were proposed as an alternative to solve this problem. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] When using a rolled-up paper filter at the mouth end (ME), the irregular or uneven pores between the folded parts of the paper resulted in a less aesthetically pleasing appearance compared to a cellulose acetate filter.

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to provide a cigarette filter with excellent aesthetic appearance.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a tobacco filter with excellent biodegradability and particulate removal capabilities.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the tobacco filter.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a smoking article including the aforementioned tobacco filter.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide an aerosol generating device including the smoking article.

[0010] The object of the present invention is not limited to the objects mentioned above, and other objects and advantages of the present invention not mentioned can be understood from the following description, and can be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it can be easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be realized by the means shown in the claims and combinations thereof.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cigarette filter including a paper sheet containing pulp fibers, wherein the bulk of the paper sheet is 2 to 4 cm 3 / g, and the pulp fibers include at least one of single fibers having an average coarseness of 13 mg / 100 m or more; and mixed fibers including sub-pulp fibers and recycled fibers.

[0012] According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the content of the single fibers may be 70% by weight or more based on the total weight of the paper sheet.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the sub-pulp fibers may include pulp fibers derived from evergreen trees.

[0014] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the weight ratio of the sub-pulp fibers and the recycled fibers may be 9:1 to 5:5.

[0015] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the average length of the pulp fibers may be 2 to 6 mm.

[0016] According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the porosity of the paper sheet is 500 to 10,000 CU (CORESTA Unit, cm²) in accordance with ISO 2965. 3 / (min·cm 2 (kPa)) is also acceptable.

[0017] According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a smoking article is provided comprising a first part including a medium and a second part including a filter element, wherein the filter element includes a tobacco filter according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

[0018] According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect, the smoking article further comprises a third portion interposed between the first and second portions, the third portion of which may include a first cooling element or a tube filter.

[0019] According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh or eighth aspect, the smoking article further includes a fourth portion located on one side of the first portion, and at least one of the second portion and the fourth portion may include the paper sheet.

[0020] According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the second part may include the paper sheet.

[0021] According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, the second part and the fourth part may include the paper sheet.

[0022] According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the seventh to ninth aspects, the fourth portion may include a second cooling element.

[0023] The means of solving the aforementioned problems do not merely enumerate all of the features of the present invention. The diverse features of the present invention and the advantages and effects thereof can be understood in more detail by referring to the specific examples below. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to one aspect of the present invention, by providing a cigarette filter that has uniform holes when the paper sheet is wound up and has a regular cross-sectional shape, it is possible to realize a smoking product with superior aesthetic appeal.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present invention, a tobacco filter with excellent biodegradability can be provided.

[0026] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a tobacco filter with excellent particulate removal capabilities can be realized.

[0027] Along with the effects mentioned above, the specific effects of the present invention will be described below, along with an explanation of the specific details for carrying out the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0028] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a paper sheet included in a cigarette filter according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a paper sheet according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a smoking article according to the present invention and other embodiments. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an aerosol generating apparatus to which a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention can be applied. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows an aerosol generating apparatus to which smoking articles according to another embodiment of the present invention can be applied. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the ratio of the cavity area to the cross-section of the cigarette filter according to Example 1. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows the ratio of the cavity area to the cross-section of the cigarette filter according to Comparative Example 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] In this specification, singular expressions include plural expressions unless otherwise clearly stated.

[0030] In this specification, a range of numbers indicated using the term "or" refers to a range of numbers that includes the values ​​listed before and after the term as the lower and upper limits, respectively. If multiple numbers are disclosed as upper and lower limits for any given range of numbers, the range of numbers disclosed in this specification can be understood as any range of numbers whose lower limit is any one of the multiple lower limits and whose upper limit is any one of the multiple upper limits, respectively. For example, if the specification states a to b, or c to d, it can be understood as specifying a range of a to b, a to d, c to d, or c to b.

[0031] In this specification, expressions such as “First,” “Second,” “Firstly,” “Secondly,” “(S1),” and “(S2)” can modify a variety of components in any order and / or order of importance, and do not limit such components. Such expressions can be used to distinguish one component from another. For example, without exceeding the scope of the rights of this disclosure, the first component may be named the second component, and similarly, the second component may be named in place of the first component.

[0032] In this specification, "at least one of a, b, and c" may include a, b, or c individually, or two or more combinations selected from the group consisting of a, b, and c.

[0033] In this specification, “Smoking article” can mean any product that is smokeable or can provide a smoking experience, whether or not it is based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. For example, a smoking article may include smokeable products such as cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos. Other examples include combustion-type smoking articles and heated-type smoking articles.

[0034] In this specification, “upstream” or “upstream direction” may mean the direction away from the smoker’s mouth, and “downstream” or “downstream direction” may mean the direction closer to the smoker’s mouth. The terms upstream and downstream may be used to describe the relative positions of the elements constituting the smoking article.

[0035] In this specification, "longitudinal direction" may mean the direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article.

[0036] In this specification, "single fiber" may mean a fiber consisting of one type of raw pulp. Specifically, the single fiber may mean an individual fiber that constitutes a pulp fiber.

[0037] In this specification, "mixed fiber" is a concept in contrast to "single fiber," and can mean a fiber derived from two or more types of wood or plants; or a fiber that contains subpulp fiber as a raw material but may additionally contain regenerated fiber.

[0038] <1. Cigarette filters> According to one aspect of the present invention, a cigarette filter comprising a paper sheet containing pulp fibers, wherein the bulk of the paper sheet is 2 to 4 cm 3The present invention provides a cigarette filter in which the pulp fibers are at least one of the following: single fibers with an average coarseness of 13 mg / 100m or more; and mixed fibers including subpulp fibers and regenerated fibers. Conventionally, when a wound paper filter is applied to the mouth end (ME), there is a problem that the appearance is inferior to that of a cellulose acetate filter due to irregular or uneven pores between the folded parts of the paper. According to one aspect of the present invention, by mainly affecting the filtration efficiency (beating degree) of the paper sheet, the average coarseness in single fibers, and the inclusion of regenerated fibers in mixed fibers, it is possible to realize a cigarette filter that has uniform pores and a regular cross-sectional shape when the paper sheet is wound. As a result, the present invention can realize a smoking article with excellent appearance and the effect of conveying a clean image to the user.

[0039] The configuration of the present invention will be described in more detail below, with reference to the drawings.

[0040] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a paper sheet included in a cigarette filter according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Referring to Figure 1, the paper sheet 100 according to the present invention can maintain a structure wound around a cigarette filter. When such a wound paper sheet 100 is unwound, it can be transformed into a sheet-shaped paper filter (Figure 1(a)).

[0042] The paper sheet 100 according to the present invention contains pulp fibers 10a. Here, the pulp fibers 10a may include at least one of single fibers and mixed fibers.

[0043] The single fiber according to the present invention may mean a fiber made from one or more raw material pulps from wood and plants. Specifically, the single fiber may mean an individual fiber that makes up a pulp fiber.

[0044] The mixed fiber according to the present invention means a fiber that contains sub-pulp fiber as a raw material and can additionally contain recycled fiber. For example, based on the total weight of the mixed fiber, the content of the sub-pulp fiber may be 50% by weight or more, 51% by weight or more, 52% by weight or more, 53% by weight or more, 54% by weight or more, 55% by weight or more, 56% by weight or more, 57% by weight or more, 58% by weight or more, 59% by weight or more, 60% by weight or more, 61% by weight or more, 62% by weight or more, 63% by weight or more, 64% by weight or more, 65% by weight or more, 66% by weight or more, 67% by weight or more, 68% by weight or more, 69% by weight or more, 70% by weight or more, 71% by weight or more, 72% by weight or more, 73% by weight or more, 74% by weight or more, 75% by weight or more, 76% by weight or more, 77% by weight or more, 78% by weight or more, 79% by weight or more, or 80% by weight or more. Specifically, the sub-pulp fiber may be the same as or different from the single fiber. For example, the recycled fiber may include one or more of rayon and lyocell, and specifically, it may include rayon.

[0045] On the other hand, the bulk of the paper sheet is the thickness value with respect to the basis weight of the paper sheet. Generally, it can be shown that as the porosity of the paper sheet increases, the bulk of the paper sheet also tends to increase. In the present invention, the bulk of the paper sheet may be a main factor that can change the appearance beauty degree of the filter cross-section when the paper sheet is wound up.

[0046] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bulk of the paper sheet is 2 cm 3 / g or more, 2.1 cm 3 / g or more, 2.2 cm 3 / g or more, 2.3 cm 3 / g or more, 2.4 cm 3 / g or more, 2.5 cm 3 / g or more, 2.6 cm 3 / g or more, 2.7 cm 3 / g or more, 2.8 cm 3 / g or more, 2.9 cm 3 / g or more, 3.0 cm 3 / g or more, 3.1 cm 3 / g or more, 3.2 cm3 / g or more, 3.3cm 3 / g or more, 3.4cm 3 / g or more, 3.5cm 3 / g or more, 3.6cm 3 / g or more, 3.7cm 3 / g or more, 3.8cm 3 / g or more, or 3.9cm 3 / g or more; or 4.0cm 3 / g or less, 3.9cm 3 / g or less, 3.8cm 3 / g or less, 3.7cm 3 / g or less, 3.6cm 3 / g or less, 3.5cm 3 / g or less, 3.4cm 3 / g or less, 3.3cm 3 / g or less, 3.2cm 3 / g or less, 3.1cm 3 / g or less, 3.0cm 3 / g or less, 2.9cm 3 / g or less, 2.8cm 3 / g or less, 2.7cm 3 / g or less, 2.6cm 3 / g or less, 2.5cm 3 / g or less, 2.4cm 3 / g or less, 2.3cm 3 / g or less, 2.2cm 3 Less than / g, or 2.1cm 3 / g or less; or a range of any number of values ​​where any one of the aforementioned lower limit and any one of the aforementioned upper limit are the lower limit and upper limit, respectively. Specifically, the bulk of the paper sheet is 2 to 4 cm 3 / g, 2.1 to 3.0 cm 3 / g, 2.14 to 2.9 cm 3 / g, 2.14 to 2.61 cm 3 / g, 2.5 to 2.61 cm 3 / g or 2.53 to 2.61 cm 3It may also be / g. According to some embodiments of the present invention, if the bulk of the paper sheet falls outside the numerical range, when the paper sheet is wound up, a problem may occur in which the appearance of the filter is poor due to irregular and uneven pores. For example, even if the average roughness of a single fiber satisfies 13 mg / 100m or more, if the water filtration rate described later falls outside the appropriate level, causing the bulk of the paper sheet to fall outside the numerical range, a problem may occur in which the appearance of the filter cross-section is poor due to irregular or uneven pores between the folded parts of the paper.

[0047] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a paper sheet according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Referring to Figure 2, the method for manufacturing a paper sheet according to the present invention may include the steps of (S1) preparing raw material fibers; (S2) dissociating and beating the raw material fibers; and (S3) manufacturing a paper sheet using a paper machine with the dissociated and beated raw material fibers.

[0049] On the other hand, dissociation is the process of completely separating the raw fibers by stirring them with water, while beating refers to the process of applying force to the dissociated raw fibers in water to cut and break them, thereby creating finer fibers, in order to impart papermaking properties to the dissociated raw fibers. Differences in the method and degree of dissociation and beating can change the properties of the finely fibrous pulp fibers, which can consequently affect the structure and physical properties of the paper sheet. The more beating is performed, the higher the filtration rate, and the less beating is performed, the lower the filtration rate. Here, filtration rate is an index that quantitatively determines how much the fibers have been beaten. Pulp fibers produced with a high filtration rate can increase the strength of the paper, as the bonding between fiber strands increases, resulting in a denser and relatively stronger paper. Conversely, pulp fibers produced with a low filtration rate have a lower fiber density, resulting in a relatively softer paper.

[0050] Specifically, in step (S1), the raw material fibers may be fibers that will become the raw material for pulp fibers described later, in a state prior to being micronized. That is, the bulk and porosity of the paper sheet can change depending on how much the raw material fibers are micronized, and the appearance and aesthetic quality of the paper sheet may change when it is applied to smoking articles. More specifically, the raw material fibers may be single fibers derived from wood or plants in a state prior to being micronized; or mixed fibers including subpulp fibers and regenerated fibers in a state prior to being micronized.

[0051] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the process of beating the raw material fibers, the degree of filtration may be less than 20°SR, 19°SR or less, 18°SR or less, 17°SR or less, 16°SR or less, 15°SR or less, 14°SR or less, or 13.5°SR or less. Specifically, in the process of beating the raw material pulp, the degree of filtration may be 10°SR or more and less than 20°SR, 13 to 19°SR, 13 to 18°SR, 13 to 17°SR, 13 to 16°SR, 13 to 15°SR, 13 to 14°SR, or 13 to 13.5°SR. According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the degree of filtration satisfies the above numerical range in the process of beating the raw material fibers, the bulk performance of the paper sheet will also be excellent, a porous structure can be formed, and the appearance of the filter cross-section when the paper sheet is wound up will be excellent.

[0052] The pulp fibers according to the present invention are fiber strands distributed within a paper sheet, which is the final product, and may be fibers that have been finely processed through dissociation and beating processes.

[0053] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the pulp fibers comprise at least one of the following: single fibers having an average coarseness of 13 mg / 100 m or more; and mixed fibers containing subpulp fibers and regenerated fibers. Here, average coarseness refers to the average mass per unit length of the fiber.

[0054] Specifically, the average coarseness of the single fiber is 13 mg / 100m or more, 14 mg / 100m or more, 15 mg / 100m or more, 16 mg / 100m or more, 17 mg / 100m or more, 18 mg / 100m or more, 19 mg / 100m or more, 20 mg / 100m or more, 21 mg / 100m or more, 22 mg / 100m or more, 23 mg / 100m or more, 24 mg / 100m or more, 25 mg / 100m or more, 26 mg / 100m or more, 27 mg / 100m or more, or 28 mg / 100m or more; or 4 0 mg / 100m or less, 39 mg / 100m or less, 38 mg / 100m or less, 37 mg / 100m or less, 36 mg / 100m or less, 35 mg / 100m or less, 34 mg / 100m or less, 33 mg / 100m or less, 32 mg / 100m or less, 31 mg / 100m or less, 30 mg / 100m or less, 29 mg / 100m or less, or 28 mg / 100m or less; or any range of numbers where any one of the above lower limits and any one of the above upper limits are set as the lower limit and upper limit, respectively. More specifically, the average roughness of the single fiber may be 13 mg / 100m or more, 13 to 29 mg / 100m, 14 to 29 mg / 100m, 15 to 28 mg / 100m, 16 to 28 mg / 100m, 17 to 28 mg / 100m, 18 to 28 mg / 100m, 19 to 28 mg / 100m, 20 to 28 mg / 100m, 21 to 28 mg / 100m, 22 to 28 mg / 100m, 23 to 28 mg / 100m, 24 to 28 mg / 100m, 25 to 28 mg / 100m, 26 to 28 mg / 100m, or 27 to 28 mg / 100m.

[0055] According to one aspect of the present invention, by ensuring that the average roughness of the single fibers satisfies the aforementioned numerical range, a cigarette filter with uniform pores and a regular cross-sectional shape can be realized when the paper sheet is wound up. As a result, the present invention can realize a smoking product with superior aesthetic appeal, conveying a clean image to the user. On the other hand, fiber roughness is one of the properties of natural fibers such as wood and plants, and the higher the roughness, the more bulky the paper sheet can exhibit. If the roughness is low, there will be more points where the fibers come into contact with each other and form hydrogen bonds, which can lead to a decrease in the porosity of the paper sheet, an increase in tensile strength, and the formation of an entangled structure between the fibers.

[0056] For example, the average roughness of the single fiber can be analyzed in accordance with the KS M ISO 9184-6:1994 test standard.

[0057] According to some embodiments of the present invention, by satisfying the organic combination relationship between the water permeability range and the average roughness range of the single fiber, a cigarette filter can be realized that has uniform pores and a regular cross-sectional shape when the paper sheet is wound up. As a result, the present invention can realize a smoking article with excellent appearance and the effect of conveying a clean image to the user.

[0058] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in step (S3), the paper machine may be a general paper machine or papermaking machine commonly used in the art. When using raw fibers from which steps (S1) and (S2) have been carried out, an excellent effect can be achieved in terms of the aesthetic appearance of the cross-section when the paper sheet is wound up.

[0059] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the single fiber content may be 70% by weight or more based on the total weight of the paper sheet, specifically 70 to 100% by weight, 70 to 99% by weight, 72 to 90% by weight, 73 to 86% by weight, 74 to 84% by weight, 75 to 83% by weight, 76 to 82% by weight, 77 to 81% by weight, or 78 to 80% by weight. According to some embodiments of the present invention, by satisfying the above numerical range for the single fiber content, the workability of the paper sheet can be improved, and a cigarette filter with uniform holes and a regular cross-sectional shape can be realized when the paper sheet is wound up.

[0060] As described above, the blended fibers according to the present invention include subpulp fibers and regenerated fibers.

[0061] Specifically, the subpulp fibers may be pulp fibers derived from wood or plants. For example, the wood and plants are not particularly limited and may be raw materials that can be used to manufacture paper sheets in the art. Specifically, the wood may be evergreen trees, broad-leaved trees, coniferous trees, etc., and the plants may be bamboo, hemp, flax, etc. More specifically, the wood may include one or more of Southern Pine, Mixed Softwood, Cedrus, Hardwood, and Softwood. However, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited thereto, and a variety of woods and / or plants may be used.

[0062] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the subpulp fibers may include pulp fibers derived from evergreen trees. Specifically, by mixing subpulp fibers derived from evergreen trees with regenerated fibers, a cigarette filter with uniform pores and a regular cross-sectional shape can be realized when the paper sheet is wound up. For example, the evergreen tree may be Southern Pine, and the regenerated fibers may include one or more of rayon and lyocell, specifically rayon. Here, when the regenerated fibers are rayon, the bulk of the paper sheet is adjusted to an appropriate level, and an even better aesthetic appearance of the cigarette filter can be achieved.

[0063] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the weight ratio of subpulp fibers to regenerated fibers (subpulp fibers:regenerated fibers) may be 9:1 to 5:5, more specifically 8:2 to 6:4, and more specifically 8:2 to 7:3. According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the weight ratio of subpulp fibers to regenerated fibers satisfies the above numerical range, a cigarette filter can be realized that has uniform pores and a regular cross-sectional shape when the paper sheet is wound up.

[0064] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the average length of the pulp fibers may be 2 to 6 mm, 3 to 5 mm, or 4 to 5 mm. Specifically, by satisfying the above numerical range for the average length of the pulp fibers, the degree of filtration can be changed by adjusting the contact between fibers in the fiber suspension during the paper sheet manufacturing process to an appropriate level. This can also affect the bulk and porosity of the paper sheet, thereby changing the aesthetic appearance when the paper sheet is applied to a filter in a wound state.

[0065] On the other hand, the basis weight of a paper sheet is the weight per unit area (g / m²) of the paper sheet. 2 =gsm), which can affect the bulk value of the paper sheet and potentially impact the appearance and aesthetic quality when the paper sheet is wound up.

[0066] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the basis weight of the paper sheet is 20 gsm or more, 21 gsm or more, 22 gsm or more, 23 gsm or more, 24 gsm or more, 25 gsm or more, 26 gsm or more, 27 gsm or more, 28 gsm or more, 29 gsm or more, 30 gsm or more, 31 gsm or more, 32 gsm or more, 33 gsm or more, 34 gsm or more, 35 gsm or more, 36 gsm or more, 37 gsm or more, 38 gsm or more, 39 gsm or more. , 40gsm or more, 41gsm or more, 42gsm or more, 43gsm or more, 44gsm or more, 45gsm or more, 46gsm or more, 47gsm or more, 48gsm or more, 49gsm or more, 50gsm or more, 51gsm or more, 52gsm or more, 53gsm or more, 54gsm or more, 55gsm or more, 56gsm or more, 57gsm or more, 58gsm or more, or 59gsm or more; 60gsm or less, 59gsm or less, 58gsm or less , 57gsm or less, 56gsm or less, 55gsm or less, 54gsm or less, 53gsm or less, 52gsm or less, 51gsm or less, 50gsm or less, 49gsm or less, 48gsm or less, 47gsm or less, 46gsm m or less, 45gsm or less, 44gsm or less, 43gsm or less, 42gsm or less, 41gsm or less, 40gsm or less, 39gsm or less, 38gsm or less, 37gsm or less, 36gsm or less, 35gsm or less, 34 The basis weight may be less than or equal to gsm, less than or equal to 33gsm, less than or equal to 32gsm, less than or equal to 31gsm, less than or equal to 30gsm, less than or equal to 29gsm, less than or equal to 28gsm, less than or equal to 27gsm, less than or equal to 26gsm, less than or equal to 25gsm, less than or equal to 24gsm, less than or equal to 23gsm, less than or equal to 22gsm, or less than or equal to 21gsm; or any range of any number of which is the lower limit and upper limit, respectively, of any one of the above-mentioned lower limits and any one of the above-mentioned upper limits. Specifically, the basis weight of the paper sheet may be 20 to 60gsm, 25 to 55gsm, 30 to 50gsm, or 35 to 45gsm. According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the basis weight of the paper sheet satisfies the above-mentioned range of numbers, the bulk characteristics of the paper sheet can be effectively adjusted, which can result in superior aesthetic appearance of the cigarette filter.

[0067] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the thickness of the paper sheet may be 50 to 150 μm, 60 to 140 μm, 70 to 130 μm, 80 to 120 μm, 90 to 110 μm, or 100 to 110 μm. If the thickness of the paper sheet is less than the numerical range, problems may occur in the manufacturing process due to an excessively low achievable suction resistance level or tearing of the paper sheet. If the thickness of the paper sheet exceeds the numerical range, tearing may occur during the filter manufacturing process, or a suction resistance so high that it causes abnormal suction of smoking items may occur. Furthermore, if the thickness of the paper sheet falls outside the numerical range, problems such as paper fraying or circumferential defects may occur during the manufacture of cigarette filters.

[0068] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in accordance with ISO 2965, the air permeability of the paper sheet may be 500 to 10,000 CU, 600 to 9,000 CU, 700 to 8,000 CU, 800 to 7,000 CU, 900 to 6,000 CU, 900 to 5,000 CU, 900 to 4,000 CU, or 925 to 3,950 CU. According to some embodiments of the present invention, when the air permeability of the paper sheet satisfies the above numerical range, it satisfies an appropriate level of filtration performance and improves the aesthetic appearance of the filter by forming a cross-section with uniform pores when the paper sheet is wound up.

[0069] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a humectant may be applied to at least a portion of the surface of the paper sheet in order to achieve a desired degree of pressure drop. Here, pressure drop can mean the resistance of air felt by the user when they hold the smoking item in their mouth and inhale air. Since the smoking satisfaction felt by the user can differ depending on the pressure drop, it is necessary to achieve a target pressure drop. For example, the humectant may include at least one of glycerin, guar gum, starch, methylcellulose, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), gum arabic, and propylene glycol. For example, the content of the humectant applied to at least a portion of the surface of the paper sheet may be 0.5 mg / mm to 5 mg / mm.

[0070] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a cigarette filter may further contain granules to improve the bonding strength between the humectant and the paper sheet. Specifically, the granules can be added and placed on the surface of the paper sheet to improve the bonding strength between the humectant and the paper sheet. For example, the granules may include a coating layer formed on their surface to prevent them from cracking or breaking due to external impact. According to one example, the coating layer is made of microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous lactose, Cellactose 80 (75% microcrystalline cellulose and 25% lactose processed simultaneously), isomalt, dibasic dihydrate calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium lactate, dibasic anhydrous calcium phosphate, tribasic calcium phosphate, calcium silicate, calcium sulfate, carbomer, calcium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, cellulose, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose acetate, ceratonia, copovidone, corn starch, and pregelatinized starch. starch, dextrate, dextrin, dextrose, erythritol, ethylcellulose, fructose, fumaric acid, glyceryl monooleate, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl palmitostearate, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxyethylmethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl beta-dex (HydroxypropylBetadex, hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl starch, hypromellose, hypromellose acetate succinate, kaolin, lactitol, anhydrous lactose, lactose monohydrate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide, maltitol, maltodextrin, maltose, mannitol, methylcellulose, polaxamer, polycarbophil, polydextrose, poly(DL-lactic acid), polyethylene glycol, polyethylene oxide, polymethacrylate, polyoxyglyceride, polyvinyl alcohol, povidone, shellac, simethicone, sodium alginate, sodium chloride, sorbitol, starch, sucrose, spheroidal sugar (Sugar It may contain at least one of the following: spheres, sulfobutyl ether B-cyclodextrin, titanium dioxide, trehalose, fine crystalline wax, white wax, yellow wax, xanthan gum, xylitol, beeswax, candelilla, carnauba, caraway, sugarcane wax, myrtle wax, gum arabic, locust bean wax, guar gum, alginate, carrageenan, and pectin.

[0071] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the paper sheet may be formed by winding it into a cylindrical shape, and its circumference may be 20 to 25 mm. For example, the paper sheet may be formed by clipping a base paper and winding the paper, or it may be manufactured by winding the base paper so that it becomes cylindrical when wound. In this case, the circumference of the paper sheet may be the circumference of the bottom surface after it has been wound into a cylindrical shape.

[0072] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the ratio of the cavity area to the cross-section of the cigarette filter may be 19% or less, 18% or less, 17% or less, 16% or less, 15% or less, 14% or less, 13% or less, 12% or less, 11% or less, 10% or less, 9% or less, 8% or less, 7% or less, 6% or less, 5% or less, or 4.3% or less. According to some embodiments of the present invention, by satisfying the above numerical range for the ratio of the cavity area of ​​the cigarette filter, it is possible to realize a cigarette filter that has uniform holes when the paper sheet is wound up and has a regular cross-sectional shape. As a result, the present invention can realize a smoking product with excellent appearance and the effect of conveying a clean image to the user. For example, the ratio of the cavity area to the cross-section of the cigarette filter is the ratio of the area of ​​empty space not occupied by the paper sheet when the total area of ​​the filter cross-section is set to 100, and can be calculated by taking a surface image, shading the empty space, and measuring the ratio of white hue area (paper) to black hue area (cavity).

[0073] <2. Smoking items> According to another aspect of the present invention, a smoking article comprising a first part containing a medium; and a second part containing a filter element, wherein the filter element includes a tobacco filter according to some embodiments of the present invention. According to some embodiments of the present invention, by including a tobacco filter (a rolled-up paper sheet) in the filter element, a smoking article can be realized that is aesthetically pleasing and highly biodegradable.

[0074] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0075] Referring to Figure 3, the first smoking article 200a according to the present invention may be, as one embodiment of the smoking article 200, for example, a combustible cigarette.

[0076] The first smoking article 200a according to the present invention includes a first part 210 and a second part 220. The first smoking article 200a may further include a wrapper 250. Specifically, the first part 210 and the second part 220 may be arranged sequentially along the length of the first smoking article 200a. More specifically, the first part 210 may be positioned upstream of the second part 220. In this case, the wrapper 250 can wrap at least one of the first part 210 and the second part 220, specifically, a part of the first part 210 and all of the second part 220. For example, the first and second parts 210 and 220 may have a circumferential shape.

[0077] The first part 210 according to the present invention includes a medium that can generate smoke and / or aerosols when burned. Specifically, when the first part 210 is burned, the generated mainstream smoke can be inhaled by the user via the second part 220, described later, in the longitudinal direction of the first smoking article 200a.

[0078] For example, the medium is not particularly limited and may be a substance that can generate common smoke and / or aerosols commonly used in the art. Specifically, the medium may include tobacco raw materials such as tobacco leaf scraps and tobacco stems, and substances processed therefrom. More specifically, the medium may include crushed tobacco leaves, swollen midribs, tobacco shavings (e.g., leaf tobacco shavings, plate-shaped leaf shavings), tobacco sheets (e.g., plate-shaped leaves), etc.

[0079] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the medium may further contain one or more additives, which are humectants and flavoring agents. For example, a humectant can maintain the moisture content in the medium at an appropriate level, soften the inherent flavor, and increase the amount of atomization. Specifically, the humectant may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol. For example, the flavoring agent may be added to enhance the flavor. Specifically, the flavoring agent may include licorice, sucrose, fructose syrup, isosweet, cocoa, lavender, cinnamon, cardabomb, celery, fenugreek, cascarilla, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, mint oil, keraway, cognac, jasmine, chamomile, menthol, ylang-ylang, sage, spearmint, ginger, coriander, clove extract (or clove material), or coffee.

[0080] The second portion 220 according to the present invention may be a filter that performs a filtering function for smoke and / or aerosols generated by the first portion 210. Specifically, the second portion 220 may be located downstream of the first portion 210 and connected to the downstream end of the first portion 210.

[0081] The second part 220 according to the present invention includes a filter element to perform the filtration function. Specifically, the filter element includes a cigarette filter according to some embodiments of the present invention, and more specifically, may include a wound paper sheet 100.

[0082] The wrapper 250 according to the present invention is cylindrical and may be placed on the surface of the paper sheet 100, more specifically, it may surround the paper sheet 100. More specifically, the wrapper 250 may be filter wrapping paper or chip paper. For example, if the wrapper 250 is filter wrapping paper, it can surround the paper sheet 100, and if the wrapper is chip paper, it may surround the filter wrapping paper. For example, the wrapper 250 may contain cellulose or dextrin.

[0083] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention. Descriptions that overlap with the preceding explanation will be briefly explained or omitted.

[0084] Referring to Figure 4, the second smoking article 200b according to the present invention may be, as another embodiment of the smoking article 200, for example, a combustible cigarette.

[0085] The second smoking article 200b according to the present invention may further include a third portion 230 interposed between the first portion 210 and the second portion 220. Specifically, the third portion 230 may be located on one side of the first portion 210 or on one side of the second portion 220. More specifically, the second smoking article 200b according to the present invention may be arranged in a continuous order along its length: the first portion 210, the third portion 230, and the second portion 220.

[0086] A third portion 230 according to one embodiment of the present invention can cool the airflow passing through the first portion 210 from outside the second smoking article 200b. Specifically, the third portion 230 may include a first cooling element.

[0087] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first cooling element may be a cylindrical paper tube made of paper material and containing a hollow core. Specifically, the inner surface of the paper tube may be coated with polylactic acid. According to some embodiments of the present invention, coating the inner surface of the paper tube with polylactic acid can more effectively cool the mainstream smoke and / or aerosol of the cigarette generated when the first portion 210 is ignited.

[0088] In another embodiment of the present invention, the first cooling element may be formed from a biodegradable polymer material, specifically from polylactic acid fibers.

[0089] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the first cooling element may be a cellulose acetate filter.

[0090] The wrapper 250 according to the present invention may surround at least one of the first to third portions 210, 220, and 230.

[0091] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a smoking article according to another embodiment of the present invention. Descriptions that overlap with the preceding explanation will be briefly explained or omitted.

[0092] Referring to Figure 5, the third smoking article 200c according to the present invention may be, as another embodiment of the smoking article 200, for example, a heated tobacco product. Specifically, the third smoking article 200c may be a heated tobacco product that is heated externally or internally by an aerosol generating device described later.

[0093] The third smoking article 200c according to the present invention may further include a fourth portion 240 disposed on one side of the first portion 210. Specifically, the fourth portion 240, the first portion 210, the third portion 230, and the second portion 220 may be arranged in that order along the length of the third smoking article 200c. That is, the first portion 210 may be interposed between the third portion 230 and the fourth portion 240, and the third portion 230 may be interposed between the first portion 210 and the second portion 220.

[0094] The third smoking article 200c according to the present invention may include a wrapper 250 that encloses at least one of the first to fourth parts 210, 220, 230, and 240 described above.

[0095] The fourth part 240 according to one embodiment of the present invention may be an aerosol-generating substrate. Specifically, the fourth part 240 may include an aerosol-generating substance. For example, the aerosol-generating substance may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol.

[0096] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the second portion 220 and the fourth portion 240 may include a paper sheet according to several embodiments. Specifically, by including a paper sheet according to several embodiments of the present invention in at least one of the second portion 220 and the fourth portion 240, the appearance of the smoking article in which the paper sheet is filled in a rolled state may be improved, as may the biodegradability.

[0097] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, either the second portion 220 or the fourth portion 240 may include the paper sheet, and the other may include a cellulose acetate filter, specifically, the second portion 220 may include the paper sheet. According to some embodiments of the present invention, by including the paper sheet in the second portion which is the mouth, it is possible to provide a smoking article that has uniform pores and a regular cross-sectional shape when the rolled paper filter is filled. This improves the aesthetic appearance of the filter and conveys a clean image to the user.

[0098] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second portion 220 and the fourth portion 240 may include the paper sheet. Specifically, by including the paper sheet according to several embodiments of the present invention in the second portion 220 and the fourth portion 240, it is possible to provide a smoking article in which the paper sheet is wound and filled, which has superior aesthetic appearance and is highly biodegradable.

[0099] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the paper sheet of the fourth portion 240 may be impregnated with the aerosol-generating substance described above. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the inclusion of a paper sheet impregnated with the aerosol-generating substance in the fourth portion 240 further increases the impregnation rate of the aerosol-generating substance into the paper sheet, thereby further improving the atomization function.

[0100] According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the fourth portion 240 may include a second cooling element for cooling the atomization supplied from a liquid cartridge. In this case, the second portion 220 may include a paper sheet according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example, the second cooling element may be the same as or different from the first cooling element. Specifically, the second cooling element may be formed of a paper material and may be a cylindrical paper tube containing a hollow. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the inner surface of the paper tube may be coated with polylactic acid. By coating the inner surface of the paper tube with polylactic acid, the atomization supplied from the liquid cartridge can be cooled more effectively.

[0101] A third part 230 relating to another embodiment of the present invention may include a tube filter. The tube filter is a filter through which atomization is transferred and may be a hollow cellulose acetate filter.

[0102] Figure 6 shows an aerosol generating apparatus to which a smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

[0103] The aerosol generating apparatus 300 according to one embodiment of the present invention may be the first aerosol generating apparatus 300a.

[0104] Referring to Figure 6, a first aerosol generator 300a according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a housing (not shown), a heater 330, a control unit 320, and a battery 310. For example, the first aerosol generator 300a may further include other general or common components in addition to the components shown. Specifically, the first aerosol generator 300a may further include an output module (e.g., motor, display) for outputting the status of the device and / or an input module (e.g., button) for receiving user input (e.g., device on / off).

[0105] The housing according to the present invention can form the external appearance of the first aerosol generating device 300a and can form a housing space for accommodating the third smoking article 200c according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0106] The heater 330 according to the present invention can generate smoke and / or aerosol by heating a third smoking article 200c housed in a containment space. A third smoking article 200c according to some embodiments of the present invention, housed in such a containment space, can generate smoke and / or aerosol by being heated by the heater. The generated smoke and / or aerosol can be inhaled through the user's mouth ME.

[0107] Although Figure 6 shows the heater 330 as being implemented using an internal heating method, this is merely for the sake of understanding, and it can also be modified to use an external heating method. For example, the heater 330 can be implemented using an electrical resistance heater or an induction heating method.

[0108] The control unit 320 according to the present invention can control the operation of the first aerosol generator 300a in general. For example, the control unit 320 can control the operation of the heater 330 and the battery 310, and can also control the operation of other components included in the first aerosol generator 300a. Specifically, the control unit 320 can control the power supplied by the battery 310, the heating temperature of the heater 330, and so on. The control unit 320 can also check the state of each component of the first aerosol generator 300a and determine whether the first aerosol generator 300a is in an operational state.

[0109] The control unit 320 according to the present invention can be implemented by at least one processor. The processor can be implemented by an array of many logic gates, or by a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and memory storing a program that can be executed by the microprocessor.

[0110] The battery 310 according to the present invention can supply power used to operate the first aerosol generator 300a. For example, the battery 310 can supply power to the heater 330 and can supply the power necessary for the control unit 320 to operate. The battery 310 can also supply the power necessary for the operation of electrical components such as a display, sensors, and motors provided in the first aerosol generator 300a.

[0111] Figure 7 shows an aerosol generating apparatus to which smoking articles according to another embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

[0112] Referring to Figure 7, the aerosol generating apparatus 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention may be the second aerosol generating apparatus 300b.

[0113] The second aerosol generating apparatus 300b according to the present invention may further include a vaporizer 340.

[0114] The vaporizer 340 according to the present invention can vaporize a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and generate an aerosol. For example, the vaporizer 340 may include a liquid storage tank for storing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a wick for absorbing the stored liquid, and a liquid vaporization element for vaporizing the absorbed liquid. In this case, the liquid vaporization element may be implemented as a heating element, a vibrating element for vaporizing the liquid through ultrasonic vibration, or in other forms. In another example, the vaporizer 340 may not include a wick. The liquid vaporization element of the vaporizer 340 may be controlled by a control unit 320.

[0115] The aerosol generated in the vaporizer 340 can pass through the third smoking article 200c and be inhaled through the user's mouth.

[0116] The heater 330 according to the present invention can be positioned appropriately to realize an external heating method.

[0117] The following describes embodiments of the present invention in detail so that those with ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement it. However, these are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following.

[0118] [Experimental Example 1: Evaluation of the aesthetic appearance of cigarette filters by adjusting the degree of filtration and coarseness]

[0119] Raw fibers of various origins were dissociated and beaten. During the beating process, the water filtration rate was adjusted to the values ​​shown in Table 1 below. After drying the dissociated and beaten raw fibers using a normal drying process, paper sheets were manufactured using a paper machine. Subsequently, cigarette filters were manufactured using filter wrapping paper surrounding the paper sheets.

[0120] Sensory evaluation was conducted using a difference recognition test, a characteristic difference test, a ranking method, and a scoring method. Thirteen sensory panelists evaluated the aesthetic quality of the cross-sectional appearance of cigarette filters using a 5-point scale. Specifically, a score of 4 to 5 points for filter aesthetic quality was rated as "excellent," 3 to less than 4 points as "good," over 2 to less than 3 points as "average," and 2 points or less as "inadequate."

[0121] [Table 1]

[0122] Referring to Table 1 above, it can be confirmed that the average roughness of a single fiber changes depending on the origin of the pulp fibers. Both the origin of the pulp fibers and the degree of filtration (degree of beating) may influence the achievement of excellent bulk performance in paper sheets. Through the above experimental results, it can be confirmed that the aesthetic appearance of the filter's cross-section changes by simultaneously adjusting the degree of filtration and the average roughness of a single fiber during the paper sheet manufacturing process.

[0123] Specifically, when the average coarseness of a single fiber is the same, comparing Comparative Example 1 and Example 1 in terms of filtration efficiency, even if the average coarseness of a single fiber satisfies 13 mg / 100 m or more, the filtration efficiency becomes higher than 20°SR, resulting in a paper sheet bulk of 2 to 4 cm. 3 It can be confirmed that the / g requirement cannot be met. Through this, it can be confirmed that in the case of Comparative Example 1, when the paper sheet is wound up, the aesthetic performance is reduced due to irregular or uneven pores between the folded parts of the paper. In contrast, in the case of Example 1, it can be confirmed that the aesthetic appearance of the filter's cross-section is significantly improved by satisfying an average roughness of 13 mg / 100m or more for a single fiber and adjusting the filtration rate to less than 20°SR.

[0124] In Comparative Example 2, adjusting the average roughness of a single fiber to less than 13 mg / 100 m and the water filtration rate to a high level can significantly reduce the bulk and porosity of the paper sheet, potentially leading to a substantial decrease in filter aesthetic performance.

[0125] In contrast, in Examples 1 to 4, the bulk of the paper sheet was 2 to 4 cm 3 It can be confirmed that the appearance and aesthetic performance of the filter's cross-section improves when the / g requirement is met and the average coarseness of a single fiber is 13 mg / 100 m or higher. Here, the bulk of the paper sheet may vary depending on the filtration rate.

[0126] When comparing Examples 1 to 3 in terms of filter aesthetics based on the average roughness of a single fiber, under the same conditions for water filtration efficiency, it can be confirmed that the higher the average roughness of a single fiber, the higher the bulk and porosity of the paper sheet. In light of this trend, it can be confirmed that the filter aesthetics are further improved when the average roughness of a single fiber is 18 to 28 mg / 100m.

[0127] [Experimental Example 2: Percentage of the standard cavity area in the cross-section of a cigarette filter]

[0128] Figure 8 shows the ratio of the cavity area to the cross-section of the cigarette filter according to Example 1. Figure 9 shows the ratio of the cavity area to the cross-section of the cigarette filter according to Comparative Example 1. The cavity area relative to the cross-section of the cigarette filter was analyzed. Here, cavities are represented in black.

[0129] Referring to Figures 8 and 9, it can be confirmed that the ratio of the cross-sectional reference cavity area of ​​the cigarette filter according to Example 1 is 4.3%, while the ratio of the cross-sectional reference cavity area of ​​the cigarette filter according to Comparative Example 1 is 19.9%. From this, it can be inferred that a lower ratio of the cross-sectional reference cavity area of ​​the cigarette filter can result in a filter with superior appearance.

[0130] [Experimental Example 3: Reference data demonstrating the particulate removal effect of paper sheets on CA filters]

[0131] The removal capacity was derived through the following steps: 1) measuring the amount of smoke components transferred from a cigarette without a cigarette filter; 2) measuring the amount of smoke components transferred from a cigarette with a cigarette filter under the same conditions; 3) calculating the difference between the amount of smoke components transferred in 1) and the amount of smoke components transferred in 2), which represents the amount of smoke components removed by the filter; and 4) calculating the ratio of 3) to 1) to calculate the removal capacity.

[0132] [Table 2]

[0133] Referring to Table 2 above, it can be confirmed that paper sheets have significantly higher removal capabilities for particulate matter, tar, and nicotine compared to cellulose acetate filters.

[0134] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications and improvements by those skilled in the art, using the basic concepts of the present invention as defined in the following claims, also fall within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0135] 10a: Pulp fiber 100: Paper sheet 200: Smoking items 200a: 1st smoking items 200b: Second smoking item 200c: Third smoking item 210: 1st part 220: 2nd part 230: 3rd part 240: 4th part 250: Wrapper 300: Aerosol generator 300a: First aerosol generator 300b: Second aerosol generator 310: Battery 320: Control Unit 330: Heater 340: Steamer

Claims

1. A cigarette filter comprising a paper sheet containing pulp fibers, The bulk of the aforementioned paper sheet is 2 to 4 cm. ３ / g, The pulp fibers are, A single fiber with an average coarseness of 13 mg / 100 m or more, A blend of fibers including subpulp fibers and regenerated fibers, comprising at least one of these, Cigarette filters.

2. Based on the total weight of the aforementioned paper sheet, the content of the single fiber is 70% by weight or more. A tobacco filter according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned subpulp fibers include pulp fibers derived from evergreen trees. A tobacco filter according to claim 1.

4. The weight ratio of the subpulp fibers to the regenerated fibers is 9:1 to 5:

5. A tobacco filter according to claim 1.

5. The average length of the pulp fibers is 2 to 6 mm. A tobacco filter according to claim 1.

6. The porosity of the aforementioned paper sheet is 500 to 10,000 CU. A tobacco filter according to claim 1.

7. A first part containing the medium, A second part containing a filter element, and including, The aforementioned filter element is Including the tobacco filter described in claim 1, Smoking items.

8. Further including a third part interposed between the first and second parts, The third part mentioned above is Including a first cooling element or tube filter, The smoking article according to claim 7.

9. Further including a fourth portion located on one side of the first portion, At least one of the second and fourth parts includes the paper sheet, The smoking article according to claim 8.

10. The second part includes the paper sheet, The smoking article according to claim 9.

11. The second and fourth parts include the paper sheet, The smoking article according to claim 9.

12. The fourth part includes a second cooling element, The smoking article according to claim 9.

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