Paper Cigarette Filter with Embossed Grooves for Capsule Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cigarette filters made from cellulose acetate fibers have long decomposition periods and cause environmental issues, while biodegradable alternatives like PLA fibers struggle with filtration performance and productivity due to low elasticity and frequent breakage during manufacturing.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a paper cigarette filter involving a supply device, crimping device, cutting device, embossing formation device, and capsule addition device to create crimped, cut, and embossed paper portions with capsule-holding grooves, ensuring precise capsule placement and improved filtration performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If PLA fibers are used to manufacture filters, then biodegradability is improved, but filtration performance deteriorates due to low elasticity and adsorption

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebiodegradabilityVSAvoidfiltration performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of PLA fibers by applying a stretching process to increase elasticity and adsorption capacity. By controlling the stretching ratio and process conditions, the filter achieves both biodegradability and sufficient filtration performance, resolving the contradiction between environmental friendliness and functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If high-ratio stretching process is applied to PLA fibers, then filtration performance is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to frequent breakage of single yarn

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration performanceVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the stretching ratio parameter to a specific range that balances filtration performance and yarn integrity. By controlling the stretching process within optimal parameters, the filter achieves sufficient filtration capability while minimizing yarn breakage, thereby maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies a pre-stretching treatment before the main stretching process to prepare the PLA fibers and reduce their brittleness. This preliminary cushioning action prevents frequent breakage during subsequent high-ratio stretching, ensuring both filtration performance and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If capsule is added onto the surface of the cigarette filter, then flavor enhancement is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates as the capsule rolls and moves away from initial position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflavor enhancementVSAvoidcapsule position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates embossing grooves on the filter surface before adding the capsule. This preliminary action provides a predetermined position and retention structure for the capsule, preventing it from rolling or moving away during manufacturing. The capsule is then placed into the groove, ensuring accurate positioning and maintaining manufacturing precision while achieving flavor enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4327670A1Paper cigarette filter and method and apparatus for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2024.02.28 TAEYUNG IND CORP
  • EP4327670A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4327670A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4327670A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

In order to improve manufacturing precision, the present disclosure provides an apparatus for manufacturing a paper cigarette filter, the apparatus including: a supply device (10) configured to withdraw paper tow (211) made of a paper material at a predetermined withdrawal speed and transfer the withdrawn paper tow; a crimping device (20) disposed on one side of the supply device that corresponds to a direction in which the paper tow is transferred and including a pair of crimping rollers (21) from which a plurality of crimping protrusions protrude radially outward in a circumferential direction so that the paper tow is crimped while passing between the crimping rollers; a cutting device (30) disposed on one side of the crimping rollers and including a plurality of cutting blades configured to cut the paper tow so that the paper tow is separated into a plurality of separated paper portions (211a, 211b, 211c) at predetermined gaps in a width direction; an embossing formation device (40) disposed on one side of the cutting device and including an embossing roller (41) having a plurality of embossing protrusions (41a) protruding from an outer circumferential surface thereof so that a plurality of capsule-holding embossing grooves are formed to be recessed in a surface of at least any one of the separated paper portions; and a capsule addition device (80) disposed on one side of the embossing roller and configured to add a capsule (220) from top to bottom at predetermined gaps in a longitudinal direction on the surface of at least any one of the separated paper portions in which the embossing grooves are formed.