High-Rigidity Filter Paper for Cigarette Ventilation and Hardness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current filter-tipped cigarettes face challenges in achieving satisfactory hardness and ventilation ratio without ventilation holes or hardness increasing agents, and existing solutions either increase manufacturing costs or compromise product quality.

Innovation Solution

The use of high-rigidity and high-permeability paper for the filter plug wrapper and shaping paper, with a longitudinal rigidity of 30 or higher and air permeability of 1000 CORESTA units or greater, allows for enhanced filter hardness and ventilation without the need for ventilation holes or additional plasticizers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the amount of triacetin is increased to enhance filter hardness, then filter hardness is improved, but acetic acid odor is generated and charcoal adsorption function is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter hardnessVSAvoidacetic acid odor
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameter by replacing cellulose acetate filter material with paper filter material, which has different physical and chemical properties. This allows achieving filter hardness through mechanical structure design rather than chemical additives, thereby eliminating acetic acid odor generation while maintaining the desired filter hardness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful plasticizer (triacetin) from the filter material composition. By using paper filter material instead of cellulose acetate, the harmful chemical substance is completely eliminated, preventing both acetic acid odor generation and interference with charcoal adsorption function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Quantity of substance

If ventilation holes are provided in filter plug wrapper and shaping paper to achieve high ventilation ratio, then ventilation ratio is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and product quality stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation ratioVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes the inherent porous structure of the filter material and the permeability of the paper wrapper material to achieve ventilation without requiring additional mechanical ventilation holes. The porous nature of the filter material itself allows air passage, providing high ventilation ratio while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The filter material and wrapper material inherently possess permeability and porosity that enable ventilation function without requiring additional processing or structural modifications. The material itself serves the ventilation function, eliminating the need for separate ventilation hole fabrication steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If triacetin is added to cellulose acetate filter to impart hardness, then filter hardness is improved, but the function of charcoal adsorption is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter hardnessVSAvoidcharcoal adsorption function
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fundamental material parameter from cellulose acetate to paper, which has different interaction characteristics with charcoal. This material substitution allows the charcoal to maintain its adsorption function without interference from triacetin, while filter hardness is achieved through the mechanical structure and paper material properties rather than chemical plasticizers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables the achievement of improved filter hardness and ventilation ratio, reducing manufacturing costs and maintaining product quality, while also preventing issues like acetic acid odor and charcoal adsorption, and ensuring stable menthol delivery into mainstream smoke.

Implementation Method 1

the filter plug wrapper is formed of a high-rigidity and high-permeability paper longitudinal rigidity of which is 30 or higher

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRigidity:

Implementation Method 2

air permeability of which is 1000 CORESTA units or greater

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeability: Permeation

Implementation Method 3

a filter material is disposed in the cylindrical body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2229827B1Cigarette filter, and filter cigarette
Publication Date: 2016.11.30 JAPAN TOBACCO INC
  • EP2229827B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2229827B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2229827B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A single-segment filter having a filter plug uses a high-rigidity and high-permeability paper longitudinal rigidity of which is 30 or higher as measured in accordance with JIS P8143 and air permeability of which is 1000 CORESTA units or greater as a filter plug wrapper wrapping a filter material, and a multisegment filter having a plurality of filter plugs uses the high-rigidity and high-permeability paper as a filter plug wrapper wrapping a filter material and/or a shaping paper joining plurality of filter plugs. A cigarette comprises the particular filter.