Flavour capsule for enhanced flavour delivery in cigarettes

[0001] The sorbents contained in some traditional cigarettes do not satisfactorily provide the smoker with the desired taste. Due to the volatility of the flavoring added, the uniformity of flavored cigarettes was not completely satisfactory. Thus, there is interest in improved products and methods for providing additive materials or agents such as flavorings to cigarettes. The irreversible loss of volatile flavorings may also occur following the migration of flavor to the sorbents used in cigarette filters to remove one or more gas phase ingredients. These sorbents also adsorb the aromas delivered in the mainstream smoke, thereby reducing the taste and sensory character / acceptability of cigarettes.

[0002] US Patent Application No. US-A-2004/0187881 describes a cigarette comprising a tobacco rod and a multi-component filter comprising an adsorbent bed and an aroma-releasing segment located behind it in the direction of smoke flow, preferably containing aroma-bearing yarn. The adsorbent can also have an aroma.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0003] According to the invention, a cigarette comprising a tobacco rod attached to a filter is provided herein, wherein the filter comprises discrete, axially spaced portions. The first part of the filter contains filter material, the second part contains activated carbon, and the third part includes one or more capsules containing additive material for modifying the characteristics of tobacco smoke when smoking a cigarette. One or more capsules contain each brittle wall surrounding the additive material, where the brittle wall breaks to expose the additive material when the capsule is subjected to external force.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0004]

Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is an illustration of a sealed capsule for use in a cigarette filter according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a cigarette built in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 4a is a cross-sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention including microcapsules in the cigarette filter.

Figure 4b shows a cross-section of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention including a macrocapsule in a cigarette filter and a sorbent in filter material. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cigarette constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention including microcapsules in the filter material of the cigarette.

Figure 6 is an illustration of a preferred method for producing microcapsules.

EP 1 850 685 B1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0005] A filter system is provided in a cigarette with an additive material such as a flavoring ingredient. Improved delivery by controlled release of the additive material for the cigarette can be achieved by using one or more brittle capsules containing the additive material. This use of capsules allows the capsule core to be released in a smoker's controlled manner. This controlled release provided by the capsules can reduce the reactivity between the additive material and the cigarette, reduce evaporation and migration of the additive material within the cigarette, allow even or uneven distribution of the additive material, control the release of the additive material to achieve proper synchronization until a predetermined stimulus is achieved and / or allow in situ mixing of additive materials.

[0006] One or more capsules are contained in the filter portion of the cigarette, where by applying external force one or more capsules are opened before or during use of the cigarette. Opening one or more capsules allows the additive material to escape from the capsule (capsules) and to interact with and modify the properties of the cigarette and hence the smoke it provides. For example, the additive material may be used to provide cigarette smoke passing through the filter with one or more volatile aromas or it may be used to provide selective filtration of a compound (i.e. amine, etc.) that may have increased reactivity if present in the wet state , although it may require protection during storage against drying and / or premature reaction with atmospheric components or light.

A. Cigarettes [0007] A cigarette usually has two parts, a part containing tobacco, sometimes referred to as a tobacco rod or cigarette, and a filter part, which can be referred to as a filter tip. Tipping paper usually surrounds the filter, which creates the oral end of the cigarette. The tip paper overlaps the tobacco rod to hold the filter and tobacco rod together. The tobacco rod or tobacco-containing component comprises a paper wrapper wrapped in tobacco and an adhesive holding the seams of the paper wrapper together. The tobacco rod has a first end that is inseparably attached to the filter, and a second end that ignites or heats for smoking, smoke travels from the lit end to the filter end of the tobacco rod and further through the filter.

[0008] The filter can be used with conventional and non-traditional cigarettes. Non-traditional cigarettes include, for example, electric smoking systems as described in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,026,820; US 5,988,176; US 5 915 387; US 5,692,526; US 5,692,525; US 5,666,976; and US 5 499 636.

[0009] An exemplary embodiment of a method of making cigarettes includes providing a cut filler to the cigarette making machine to form a tobacco portion (e.g., tobacco column); placing a paper wrapper around the tobacco column to form a tobacco rod; and attaching the filter portion to form a cigarette.

[0010] The term "mainstream smoke" includes a mixture of gases and / or storage aerosols

A cigarette that exits through a cigarette, such as a tobacco rod and comes out of the end, such as the filter end, i.e. the amount of smoke escaping or drawn from the end of the oral cigarette when smoking a cigarette. The mainstream smoke contains air that is drawn in through the heated area of ​​the cigarette and through the paper wrapper.

[0011] "Smoking" a cigarette is intended to mean heating, burning or otherwise releasing certain chemicals from tobacco. Generally, smoking involves lighting one end of the cigarette and drawing smoke into the mouth of the cigarette, while the tobacco it contains burns, pyrolises or distills volatile compounds. However, the cigarette can also be smoked otherwise. For example, a cigarette can be smoked by heating the cigarette using an electric heater as described in US Patent Nos. 6,053,176; US 5,934,289; US 5 591 368 or US 5 322 075.

B. Tobacco [0012] Examples of suitable types of tobacco materials that can be used include, but are not limited to, flame-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Maryland tobacco, Oriental tobacco, rare tobacco, specialty tobacco, mixtures thereof and the like. Tobacco material may be provided in any suitable form, including, but not limited to, tobacco leaves, processed tobacco materials such as bulking tobacco, processed tobacco stalks such as cut rolled or blown stalks, reconstructed tobacco materials, their mixtures and the like. Tobacco substitutes may also be used.

[0013] In traditional cigarette production, tobacco is typically used in the form of a cut fill, i.e., in the form of shreds or strips cut to a width ranging from about 2.5 mm (1/10 inch) to about 1.3 mm ( 1/20 inch) or even up to about 0.6 mm (1/40 inch). The length of the strands is between about 6 mm (0.25 inches) and about 75 mm (3 inches). The cigarette may further contain one or more flavorings or other additives (e.g., combustion additives, combustion modifiers, coloring agents, binders, etc.).

C. Filters [0014] The filter material of the filter may be any of a variety of fibrous materials suitable for use in tobacco smoke filter elements. Typical fibrous materials include cellulose acetate, polypropylene or paper. Preferably, the filter material will be cellulose acetate.

[0015] The cigarette filter also contains activated carbon sorbent, such as activated carbon sorbent particles. Preferably, the sorbent particles have a size of about 0.3 mm to about 0.85 mm or a screen number of 20 to 50, to allow the introduction of cigarette filters into the cavities so as to achieve the desired pressure drop of the filter (retraction resistance). This applies when the sorbent fills a well-defined cavity in the filter part. Cigarette filters may use sorbents in other forms, for example, sorbent particles may be arranged in fibrous tow and may be used in the filter in such form as sections of different lengths to provide a reduction in the content of one or more components in the vapor phase of the mainstream.

[0016] The triple filters of the invention may include sections of the oral side and sides of the smoking material or tobacco sections, and a central section containing paper. The cavity filters contain at least two sections, for example acetate-acetate, acetate-paper, separated by at least one cavity. Recess filters contain an open cavity on the oral side. Filters may also be ventilated and / or contain additional sorbents, catalysts or other additives suitable for use in a cigarette filter.

[0017] The filter region of an exemplary embodiment of the cigarette may be constructed of an activated carbon sorbent preceding the capsule relative to the main stream. Activated carbon can be in the cavity at a distance of one to more capsules, which are located in the third part of the filter separated from the sorbent. This arrangement allows the filter to be filtered through the sorbent, and to aroma within the cigarette without affecting the effectiveness of the aroma caused by absorption or adsorption by the sorbent.

D. Sorbents [0018] The term "sorption" as used herein means filtration by adsorption and / or absorption. Sorption is intended to include interactions on the outer surface of the sorbent as well as interactions inside the pores and sorbent channels. In other words, a "sorbent" is a substance that can condense or trap on its surface molecules of other substances, and / or absorb other substances, that is, by penetrating other substances into its internal structure or into its pores.

[0019] As used herein, the term "sorbent" refers to an adsorbent, absorbent, or substance that can perform both of these functions.

[0020] The term "remove" as used herein refers to the adsorption and / or absorption of at least a portion of a component of the mainstream tobacco smoke.

[0021] In the second part of the filter of the present invention, the sorbent material is activated carbon.

[0022] Microporous materials (i.e. microporous sorbents), such as, for example, activated carbon can be used to filter gaseous components from cigarette smoke. The microporous sorbent may have pores with widths or diameters smaller than 20A.

[0023] Although microporous materials are useful for filtering cigarette smoke, microporous materials may also interfere with the cigarette designer when adding volatile flavorings, such as menthol. In particular, microporous sorbents tend to adsorb and / or absorb flavoring ingredients during the time between cigarette production and consumer use, thus reducing the effectiveness of flavoring ingredients in a cigarette.

[0024] In addition to reducing the effectiveness of flavoring ingredients due to adsorption / absorption by microporous sorbents, two additional problems are also encountered when the flavoring ingredient migrates to and is adsorbed / absorbed by the sorbent. First, the flavoring ingredient may occupy active places in the sorbent; thereby reducing the sorbent's ability to remove vapor phase components from smoke. Second, because the flavoring ingredient is often strongly adsorbed / absorbed by the sorbent, the flavoring ingredient may not have

Sufficient release capacity. As such, it is desirable to separate between microporous materials and flavoring ingredients or other additives.

[0025] Another advantage of the controlled release of entrapped volatile aromas in the filter is that entrapped volatile additives are added to the smoke stream through the filter portion. By adding additives to the filter, potential pyrolytic reactions that can lead to a change in their character and sensory performance are prevented.

E. Additives [0026] The term "additive" means any material or ingredient that changes the properties of a cigarette when a cigarette is smoked. Any suitable additive material or combination of materials may be contained within one or more capsules to modify the properties of the cigarette. Such additive materials include flavors, antacids and other smoke modifiers, such as chemical reagents like 3-aminopropylsilyl (APS), which interacts with smoke components. In addition, additive materials may also include diluents, solvents or processing aids that may or may not affect the sensory characteristics of the mainstream smoke, but support additive processing and encapsulation, and presentation in a cigarette.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the additive materials may include one or more flavors, such as liquid or solid flavors and aromatic formulations or materials containing flavors. The term "aroma" or "tobacco aroma" may include any aroma compound or tobacco extract suitable for being placed in a liquid-release manner inside two-part capsules, macrocapsules or microcapsules to enhance the taste of the mainstream smoke produced, for example, by a cigarette.

[0028] Suitable aromas or flavors include, but are not limited to, menthol, mint, such as peppermint and mint, chocolate, licorice, citrus and other fruit flavors, gamma octalactone, vanillin, ethyl vanillin, breath freshening flavors, Spice flavors such as cinnamon, methyl salicylate, linalool, bergamot oil, geranium oil, lemon oil, ginger oil and tobacco flavor. Other suitable aromas may include aroma compounds selected from the group consisting of acid, alcohol, ester, aldehyde, ketone, pyrazine, combinations or blends thereof and the like. Suitable aroma compounds can be selected, for example, from the group consisting of phenylacetic acid, solanone, megastigmatrienone, 2-heptanone, benzyl alcohol, cis-3-hexenyl acetate, valeric acid, valeric aldehyde, ester, terpene, sesquiterpene, nootkaton, maltol, damascenone , lactone, anethole, isovaleric acid, combinations thereof and the like.

[0029] In one embodiment, the additive material may serve as a chemical reagent for one or more constituents of the mainstream smoke. Such additive material may include, by way of example, a chemical additive that interacts with one or more components in the mainstream smoke. For example, see U.S. Patent Nos. US 6,209,547 and US 6595 218, which discuss reagents that may interact with and may remove gaseous components of a smoke stream, and are intentionally incorporated herein by reference.

EP1 850 685 B1

F. Capsules [0030] Capsules in the filter system provide benefits especially for a cigarette containing activated carbon. By placing sealed capsules in the filter after the activated carbon in cigarettes containing activated carbon in the filter, activated carbon adsorption of the released additive material and consequently deactivation of the carbon is greatly prevented. Thus, where the additive material is an aroma component, aroma adsorption by activated carbon during storage of cigarettes and during smoking is significantly prevented.

[0031] By incorporating the additive material into one or more capsules in the filter, the aroma loss into the smoke sidestream is significantly reduced and the aroma component is not pyrolysed at all when smoking a cigarette. In addition, by placing one or more capsules containing additive material in the filter portion, activated carbon can maintain its ability to modify cigarette smoke, which includes removing volatile organic compounds such as 1,3-butadiene, acrolein, isoprene, etc. from the mainstream smoke.

[0032] The term "releasable placement" as used herein refers to the containment and release of additive materials in capsules such that the additive materials are sufficiently contained and largely avoid or minimize unwanted migration, such as during storage. The term also includes, but is not limited to, additive materials in the capsule that are sufficiently mobile to be released from the capsule when, for example, the capsule is crushed or opened by mechanical force. For example, the capsule can be crushed by squeezing a portion of the cigarette filter containing the capsule, thereby releasing the additive material from the inside of the capsule.

[0033] The capsule can be formed into a variety of physical formulations, including one-part or multi-part capsules, large capsules, small capsules, microcapsules, etc. One preferred composition is a two-part capsule, while other preferred embodiments include macrocapsules or microcapsules. Although each of these preferred embodiments may contain liquid additives, the additives may be released in a similar manner in preferred embodiments by mechanical action. If macrocapsules or microcapsules are provided, the capsules may be present in the filter part of the cigarette in a distributed arrangement, or for one or more capsules, preferably two-part capsules or microcapsules, may be present in the plug or cavity within the filter. However, the capsule or capsules are preferably present after any sorbent in the cigarette, such as activated carbon.

[0034] The microcapsules can be formed by any suitable technique including encapsulation techniques such as spin coating, coacervation, interfacial polymerization, solvent evaporation, ring jet forming which uses two concentric streams to eject an internal stream of liquid core material and an external stream of liquid wall material . where the fluid stream breaks down into droplets and the wall material solidifies by phase change caused by the presence of crosslinking ions, differences in pH, temperature changes, etc.

[0035] To customize durability, strength, tear resistance, ease of capsule processing during filter manufacture, etc., single-layer or multi-layer capsules can be used. Capsules can be made of any suitable material, such as those used in drug delivery capsules, liquid-containing capsules, or other contained materials. By way of example, capsules typically used in the pharmaceutical industry may be used. Such capsules may be, for example, gelatin-based or may be formed from a polymeric material, such as modified cellulose. One type of modified cellulose that can be used is hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose.

G. Preferred Embodiments [0036] A preferred embodiment of the capsule that can be used to contain the additive material is a two-part capsule, which preferably includes a main reservoir for the additive material, where the additive material may be present in any form suitable for release from the capsule. By way of example, the main tank may be completely or partially filled with the fluid of the additive or additives and / or may contain: compressed porous material, such as a sponge saturated with additive (s) or non-adsorbing solids to reduce the space available for the additive (s) or even microcapsules containing additives to protect them against premature rupture during the rigor of filter manufacture. Preferably, the walls of one or more capsules protect the additive material from migration and allow controlled release of the additive material.

[0037] In a preferred two-part capsule, the two parts tightly seal and block the additive material inside the main reservoir and prevent leakage of the additive material before deliberate release by mechanical action. The seal formed by the two parts can be a mechanical seal. However, to improve the quality of the seal, a band seal is provided outside the capsule where the two parts of the capsule come together. The bands can be made of gelatin, HPMC or other suitable materials, preferably material similar to the material used to form the capsules.

[0038] To release the additive material contained from the two-part capsule, an external force, such as a mechanical action, is applied. One preferred method of applying external force is to crush or exert a force by the user on a filter containing a two-part capsule before or while smoking a cigarette. The applied force can be applied in the direction along or across the axis of the cigarette. You can also apply torsion. An external device, such as a squeezing device, a tube squeezing device, pliers, or any other device for applying torsion or compressive forces may also be used to focus the force several times over the recommended position of the filter.

[0039] The rupture of the capsule leads to the creation of open spaces through which at least part of the additive material can be released from the capsule.

[0040] As an alternative to the two-part capsule, aroma solutions entrapped within the one-part seamless capsule may be provided for similar purposes. In an exemplary embodiment, the microcapsules can be provided in a cigarette filter, wherein the microcapsules contain

EP 1 850 685 B1 contains additive materials. Similarly, macrocapsules and microcapsules can be broken by applying force, where the macrocapsules and microcapsules are broken to release the additive materials contained therein.

[0041] The macrocapsules and microcapsules may be distributed evenly or unevenly throughout the entire cigarette filter, in a separate part of the cigarette filter or in more than one part of the cigarette filter. Alternatively, in another exemplary embodiment, the macrocapsules may be contained in a cigarette filter within a cellulose acetate stretch separately from the sorbent area. It should be emphasized that the term "capsules" or "macrocapsules" is intended to describe large capsules, preferably with a diameter equal to or greater than about 1 mm, while the term "microcapsules" is defined as smaller capsules, preferably smaller than 1 mm.

[0042] Preferably, the cigarette filter is combined with one or more capsules placed after the activated carbon with the filter material between one or more capsules and the activated carbon at the oral end of the filter with one or more capsules placed between the filter and the oral end of the filter.

[0043] Capsules may be contained in the filter portion of the cigarette in a hollow tube, where the capsule partially fills the diameter of the tube, allowing smoke to flow through the tube and around the capsule. The hollow tube may be made of any material compatible with filter materials that may contain the capsule, but does not prevent release of the additive from the capsule or microcapsules when force is applied to the external filter. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow tube is a hollow acetate (cellulose) tube.

[0044] In one embodiment, the capsule is made of two parts, a first part and a second part as mentioned above, where the first part has an open end and the second part also has an open end. Thus, each part is hollow with an open end. The first part contains the formulation of the additive in liquid, as a solid or in absorbed form and provides the main reservoir for the additive. The second part can be inserted into the first part, forming a seal between two hollow parts. A seal such as a mechanical seal can be strengthened by using a band seal at the joint of the two parts of the capsule to prevent or minimize migration or leakage of additive material. The capsule can thus be introduced into the filter part of the cigarette. In one embodiment, the capsule is inserted into the hollow acetate tube and then introduced into the cigarette filter as shown by way of example in figure 1. By squeezing the filter containing the capsule, the additive is released. The additive may be selected to be absorbed into the hollow hollow acetate filter to ensure delivery of a constant puff.

[0045] A double capsule can also be used here. Preferably the double capsule can be formed by a smaller capsule inside a larger one. These two capsules may contain materials or formulations that may or may not be able to mix homogeneously with each other. Double capsules such as DuoCap ™ from Encap Drug Delivery from W. Lothian, Scotland can be used to hold the additive (s).

[0046] Figure 1 shows a cigarette according to a first preferred embodiment which comprises a tobacco rod 60 inseparably connected to the filter 40. The filter comprises an area of ​​the first

EP 1 850 685 B1 of the filtration material 45, the sorbent area 50 and the hollow acetate tube 70 containing the two-part capsule 10 having the first part 20 and the second part 30 inserted therein. The first part 20 is open at one end and serves as the main material container supplement. The closed hemispherical end of the second part 30 is sealed in the open end of the first part 20. The sorbent is activated carbon. Capsule of Fig. 1 it can be opened by the user of the cigarette squeezing the filter in the area of ​​the empty acetate tube 70, causing the capsule 10 to deform, thereby releasing the additive from the main reservoir in the first part 20, i.e. the additive is exposed to the main stream of smoke passing through the filter.

[0047] As shown in more detail in Figure 2, the first part 20 and the second part 30 are shown in a similar orientation as in figure 1, where the first part 20 would be oriented towards the oral end of the cigarette, while the second part 30 would be oriented towards the rod tobacco 60. Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the cigarette similar to the first preferred embodiment but without the area of ​​the first filter material at the oral end. In this embodiment, the last part of the filter 40 is removed and at the oral end there is a hollow acetate tube 70 containing the capsule 10 with the first part 20 and with the second part 30 in such a way that the additive can be directly supplied to the mainstream smoke as it is drawn from the filter. By removing the first filter material 45 area from the oral portion, the end user can squeeze the capsule contained therein to release the liquid and wet segment aroma 45, and then the capsule can be removed and discarded prior to smoking. Preferably, if it is desired to remove the capsule after use, the capsule can be inserted to at least partially protrude from the end of the oral cigarette, so that what protrudes can be gripped with a float for easier removal.

[0048] The capsule may be in the form of one or more microcapsules that encapsulate the additive (s). Each microcapsule can be used alone or in combination with other microcapsules 800 as shown in figure 4a, when used in a cigarette, each microcapsule can contain the same or different additives from a different microcapsule (microcapsules) in the cigarette (if present), depending on from the desired additive (s). For example, as shown in Figure 4a, a combination of ten menthol flavored microcapsules and five tobacco flavored microcapsules can be introduced into the cigarette filter to provide a beneficial menthol-tobacco flavor combination.

[0049] In yet another example, one or more larger macrocapsules may be provided, as shown in figure 4b, which may be a ball, such as a flavored ball or a spherical flavored capsule.

[0050] Release of additives from the microcapsules can be achieved by firmly squeezing each side of the cigarette filter 40 containing the microcapsules 800 or the macrocapsules 810, as shown in Figures 4a-b. By providing force, one or more microcapsules 800 or macrocapsules 810 may be broken and the additive in microcapsules 800 or macrocapsules 810 may be released into the cigarette. Thus, the additive (s) can be released within the cigarette filter at a point after sorbent 50 only after applying force, allowing the additive (s) to be delivered to

EP 1 850 685 B1 of the cigarette, while also reducing the interaction between the additive (s) and the sorbent.

[0051] Capsules, preferably a two-part capsule or one or more microcapsules or macrocapsules, according to preferred embodiments provide many advantages for delivering an additive component to a cigarette. The migration of the additive is minimized due to the use of a capsule that maintains the additive in the main reservoir or inside the microcapsules until use. Release of the additive can be achieved by squeezing the filter containing the capsules on each cigarette separately, leaving the remaining cigarettes in the packet. These remaining cigarettes retain their sealed additives in the filters until the capsules burst in their filters, releasing the additive. Capsules provide a protective structure to prevent or minimize migration of the additive component during storage and sorption of the additive component by the sorbent material in filters and / or other parts of cigarettes. The position of the capsule in the smoke flow direction allows the aroma compounds to be delivered to the smoker without interacting essentially with any sorbent being in the direction of the smoke flow, such as activated carbon. The position of the capsules in the filter also minimizes aroma losses to the side smoke stream.

[0052] The additive that is released from the capsules after the external force has been squeezed or applied to the capsules in the filter can be delivered in any amount desired for the particular type of additive used. The amount can be determined by the specific capsule design, especially the first part of the two-part capsule, which serves as the main reservoir for the additive component, or the number and size of microcapsules present in the filter. Typically, the amount of additive used for a cigarette can be extremely small because during the packaging and storage of the cigarette the additive is essentially sealed in capsules. By way of example, when an aroma is used as an additive, a few drops, e.g. 3pl to 6pl, 6pl to 9pl, 9μ1 to 12pl, flavoring may be sufficient in microcapsules, or more drops, e.g. 6pl to 9pl, 9pl to 10 pi, or 12 to 5 or more may be sufficient in two-part capsules or macrocapsules to provide the appropriate amount of aroma to the mainstream smoke when the cigarette is smoked.

[0053] The viscosity of the additive may also be adjusted to allow controlled infiltration of the cellulose acetate filter additive portion in addition to one or more capsules. It is believed that the slower oozing caused by the higher viscosity of the liquid can potentially reduce the additional staining on the cigarette filter paper. Viscosity modifiers that can be used include beeswax or other waxes for hydrophobic formulations and modified cellulosics etc. for hydrophilic formulations.

[0054] The capsules may be of any size suitable for use in a cigarette. In order to provide a two-part capsule in the cigarette filter, the two-part capsules preferably have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cigarette, e.g. smaller than 2 mm, 2 mm to 3 mm, 3 mm to 4 mm, 4 mm to 5 mm or larger than 5 mm, and they may have different lengths depending on the filter length, for example less than 8 mm, 8 mm to 10 mm, 10 mm to 12 mm or more than 12 mm. For traditional cigarettes, the two-part capsule has a diameter of preferably about 2 mm to 4 mm and a length of about 8 mm to 11 mm, as this allows it to be held inside the capsule

The two-part desired amount of the liquid additive component, while the two-part capsule is also fitted to the filter and provides the end user with a conveniently large target for applying force.

[0055] The two-part capsule is preferably placed in a hollow tube, by way of example, in a hollow acetate tube having an outer diameter similar to that of a cigarette filter. The location of the two-part capsule can be such that the filter material is at both ends of the hollow tube as shown in figures 1 and 3, or the hollow tube containing the capsule can be placed at the oral end of the filter as shown in figure 3. In addition, the orientation of the two-part capsule can be such that the parts of the capsule where force is applied are located within the axial periphery of the filter, while the direction of release of the additive is oriented towards the filter part on the side of the tobacco rod of the filter. It should be noted that the orientation in Figures 1 and 3 allows access to the application of force to parts of the capsule intended to release the additives after the application of force.

[0056] To provide one or more microcapsules and / or macrocapsules in a cigarette filter, the microcapsules may be of the same or different sizes. For example, the microcapsules can be made with rounded shapes with a diameter of 0.3 mm to 1 mm, but preferably have a diameter of about 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. Preferably, the microcapsules are provided in the form of round one-piece seamless capsules with a diameter of about 0.3 mm to 0.4 mm. The macrocapsules, on the other hand, can have rounded shapes, such as round one-piece seamless with diameters 1.0 mm to 6.0 mm, but preferably 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm. Round microcapsules and macrocapsules with these size ranges allow the effect to minimize the puff resistance of the microcapsules and / or macrocapsules and this can be compensated by such a cigarette design as reduced compaction of tobacco in the tobacco rod or filter components in the filter.

[0057] It should be noted that for microcapsules with a diameter of about 0.35 mm packed in a hollow tube with a diameter of about 8 mm, the hollow tube can reach about 90% filling without significantly changing the drag resistance. It has also been noted that smaller microcapsules can be used than capsules with a diameter of 0.3 mm, however, if these smaller microcapsules are used, they are more preferably dispersed in the filter material of the filter than in the cavity, because smaller size can lead to tighter packing and can lead to a significant increase in drag resistance if packed in the filter portion of the hollow tube.

[0058] As shown in figure 4a, the microcapsules 800 (or the single macrocapsule in figure 4b) can be provided by part of the depth, width and length of the filter 40. The macrocapsules 800, similar to the location of the two-part capsule, can therefore be placed in the hollow tube 70, as shown in figure 4a, which by way of example may be a hollow acetate tube having an outer diameter of the cigarette filter.

[0059] Or, as shown in figure 4b, the macrocapsule 810 may be located in the filter 40 downstream of the filter material 900, wherein the filter material 900 contains a sorbent within the folds or folds of the filter material 900.

[0060] In yet another alternative, as shown in figure 5, the microcapsules 800 may also be within filter material 900, where the microcapsules are behind the sorbent area 50.

[0061] It should be noted that the sorbent may also be incorporated into the filter material. In the exemplary embodiment, activated carbon can be introduced within the bends of the filter tow material or within the weight of the tow material, where the tow material forms the cigarette filter component, and where the microcapsules can be introduced into the cigarette filter component constituting the empty acetate tube [0062] flavored capsules, such as microcapsules, are shown in the figure

6. As shown in Figure 6, the concentric nozzle 1000 can be used to coextrude microcapsules having an aroma core 1150 and a sheath 1250, the core being formed by the center channel 1100 of the concentric nozzle 1000 and the sheath 1250 being formed by the outer channel 1200 of the concentric nozzle 1000. also shown in figure 6, the capsule 1400 formed at the end of the concentric nozzle 1000 can fall into solution 1300 where gelation can occur. By coextruding the liquid central core 1150 with aroma and the sheathing outer wall layer 1250, a liquid center capsule and gel shell wall can be formed, thereby providing a structural reservoir for the liquid additive. Alternatively, single extrusion can also be used to make capsules.

[0063] Preferably, aroma capsules 1400 can be made so that they contain cores 1150 with aroma, which may be hydrophobic, such as peppermint oil, menthol or other additives as mentioned above, and outer layers, such as shell walls 1250 composed of polysaccharides natural or natural and modified, but can also be polymer or other sheath wall materials. Preferred polysaccharides include pectin, alginate, carrageenan, gums and agar. Preferred polymers include proteins such as gelatin, modified cellulosics or synthetic polymers such as polyacrylate derivatives.

[0064] Single extrusion is also possible for forming capsules. For example, the hydrophobic aroma may be dispersed in the hydrophilic polysaccharide solution and the dispersion may be extruded through a single nozzle into a water-based cationic solution suitable for cross-linking the polysaccharide. By allowing the separation of the hydrophobic aroma from the hydrophilic components of the system (polysaccharide and cation), a separate hydrophobic core can be formed in the capsule.

[0065] For example, a single extrusion for capsule formation can be carried out by mixing 1.1 g menthol / mint aroma formulation in a vial containing 5 ml LM20 (amidated methoxypectin with 20% methoxy content) 5% by weight pectin solution in water. The vial can then be shaken vigorously to form an aroma dispersion in the pectin solution. The dispersion can then be extruded dropwise through the syringe needle into the calcium chloride solution under constant stirring. As a result, capsules of about mm - 2 mm in size can be made immediately as the droplets hit the solution for cross-linking pectin with calcium cations. The capsules can then be collected and air dried. Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) Scanning Electron Microscopy) to study the cross-sections of capsules formed by the above example methodology, it can be seen that capsules having separate core and shell geometries and having an uneven dispersion of menthol / mint aroma formulation can be formed. Similarly, another containing mixture may also be formed

2.2 g glycerol, 0.3 g menthol / mint aroma formulation and 1.5 g 5% LM20 pectin solution. Capsules from this

Mixtures can be similarly formed by passing calcium chloride into the solution, and core-sheath geometry similar to other capsules can be obtained.

[0066] By the design of the nozzle, the thickness of the outer layer 1250 can be controlled, where the ratio and size of the core 1150 with aroma to the outer layer 1250 can be specifically selected. Alternatively, the thickness of the outer layer 1250 can also be controlled by a specific selection of the outer layer material and the solution used to gel the outer layer material, where the outer layer material and solution can react quickly or slowly, and thus form thicker or thinner sheath outer wall layers 1250, depending on on the speed of their reaction with the solution.

[0067] The aroma core 1150, as mentioned above, is preferably a hydrophobic aroma, but can also be a hydrophilic aroma. However, if a hydrophilic flavor is desired, then the properties of the outer layer material are preferably different from those used with hydrophobic flavors. In addition, the aroma core 1150 may also be a dispersion of hydrophilic and hydrophobic components, wherein preferably the hydrophilic component contains cations that can affect the outer region of the outer layer. It is also possible to control the thickness by coating the main capsule using additional coating with ion gel or other means.

[0068] In addition, additives may be used to control hardness, thermal stability, capsule functionality, etc. For example, crosslinking additives and humectants can be used to control the hardness of the sheathing outer wall layer 1250, while surfactants can be used to control the hydrophilic / hydrophobic interface between the aroma core 1150 and the sheath outer wall layer 1250 or between the outer sheath layer wall layer 1250a with a 1300 solution.

Example [0069] Described herein is a preferred synthesized capsule made using the device shown in Figure 6. In a specific formulation, similar to the annular process, liquid wall material 1250 of a low-methoxypectin solution of methoxypectin was charged to the outer portion 1200 of a concentric nozzle 1000, as well as the liquid core material with a metol / mint aroma was loaded into the inner portion of 1100 concentric nozzle 1000. The menthol / mint 1150 core flavor aroma was then coextruded with 1250 liquid wall material and divided into droplets, where the coextruded 1400 droplets have predetermined sizes based on the extrusion rates of the inner and outer concentric nozzles. Coextruded droplets 1400 are then dropped into a 1300 ionic solution (e.g., calcium chloride solution), where due to the reaction between the LM pectin and the ionic solution, ionic gelation of the LM pectin occurs, which hardens the LM pectin, thus forming it into the casing wall.

[0070] It should be noted that the LM pectin casing wall can then be dried at room temperature or at elevated temperatures with a lower pressure applied to accelerate or without drying and to further solidify and stabilize the capsule, leading to

Finally forming synthesized capsules with a diameter of about 0.3 mm to 6.0 mm, preferably round capsules with a diameter of about 0.3 mm to about 4 mm. It should be noted that for these capsules, a capsule with a breaking strength of about 0.5 kgf - 0.8 kgf, 0.8 kgf 1.2 kgf, 1.2 kgf - 1.6 kgf, 1.6 kgf - is preferred. 2.0 kgf or 2.0 kgf - 2.4 kgf, but that the breaking strength can be changed based on the amount of LM pectin provided in the droplet, as well as both the concentration level of the ionic solution and the time the droplet remains in the ionic solution for gelation. For example, the size, ratio, and tear strength of the capsule can be controlled by controlling the extrusion rate of the hydrophobic aroma and the hydrophilic sheath wall independently of each other, where the extrusion rates of each of the menthol / mint and LM pectin aromas determine how much of each is present in the droplet, and hence the size, content ratio and tear resistance can be controlled.

EP1 850 685 B1