Cigarette filter and process for manufacturing the same

Abstract

Filter and process for producing filter for articles of the tobacco processing industry. The filter includes at least one filter component of multiple-component fibers. The multiple-component fibers have lengths shorter than a length of the filter. The process includes producing a rod including at least one type of multiple-component fibers having lengths shorter than a length of the filter to be produced. Further, the multiple-component fibers have a casing. The process further includes heating the rod to a temperature above a melting temperature of the casing, and cooling the rod to a temperature below the melting temperature of the casing. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A filter for articles of the tobacco processing industry, comprising: 
 at least one filter component comprising multiple-component fibers;    said multiple-component fibers having lengths shorter than a length of said filter.    
     
     
         2 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said filter is manufactured for use with cigarettes.  
     
     
         3 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said lengths of said multiple-component fibers are between 0.5 mm and 30 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The filter in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said lengths of said multiple-component fibers are between 2 mm and 8 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The filter in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein said lengths of said multiple-component fibers are between 3 mm and 6 mm.  
     
     
         6 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said multiple-component fibers comprise cores and casings composed of different materials.  
     
     
         7 . The filter in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said casing material has a lower melting point than said core material.  
     
     
         8 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each said multiple-component fibers comprises a core and a casing composed of materials having different melting points.  
     
     
         9 . The filter in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said casing material has a lower melting point than said core material.  
     
     
         10 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said multiple-component fibers comprise bi-component fibers.  
     
     
         11 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said multiple-component fibers are structured so that portions of said multiple-component fibers contacting each other adhere to each other forming contacting points.  
     
     
         12 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said at least one filter component further comprises other fibers, different from said multiple-component fibers.  
     
     
         13 . The filter in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein lengths of said other fibers is shorter than a length of said filter.  
     
     
         14 . The filter in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said lengths of said other fibers are between 0.1 mm and 30 mm.  
     
     
         15 . The filter in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said lengths of said other fibers are between 0.2 mm and 10 mm.  
     
     
         16 . The filter in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said other fibers comprise at least one of cellulose fibers and charcoal fibers.  
     
     
         17 . The filter in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said at least one filter component further comprises a powdery or granular material.  
     
     
         18 . The filter in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said multiple-component fibers are structured so that portions of said multiple-component fibers contacting each other and contacting portions of said other fibers adhere to each other forming contacting points.  
     
     
         19 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said filter is composed of between 2% wt. and 100% wt. of said multiple-component fibers and between 0% by wt. and 98% by wt. of other fibers, which are different from said multiple-component fibers.  
     
     
         20 . The filter in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said other fibers comprise at least one of cellulose fibers and charcoal fibers.  
     
     
         21 . The filter in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said filter is further composed of between 80% wt. and 95% wt. of a powdery or granular material.  
     
     
         22 . The filter in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said powdery or granular material comprises at least one of activated charcoal, an adsorber, an absorber, a catalyst and a flavoring material.  
     
     
         23 . The filter in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said multiple-component fibers are structured so that portions of said multiple-component fibers contacting each other, contacting portions of said other fibers, and contacting portions of said powdery or granular material adhere to each other forming contacting points.  
     
     
         24 . The filter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said filter is a component of a multiple filter.  
     
     
         25 . A cigarette comprising a filter in accordance with  claim 1  connected to a cigarette rod.  
     
     
         26 . A process for producing a filter for articles of the tobacco processing industry: 
 producing a rod comprising at least one type of multiple-component fibers having lengths shorter than a length of the filter to be produced, the multiple-component fibers having a casing;    heating the rod to a temperature above a melting temperature of the casing; and    cooling the rod to a temperature below the melting temperature of the casing.    
     
     
         27 . The process in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein, before producing the rod, the process comprises mixing at least one other component, which is different from the multiple-component fibers, into the at least one type of multiple-component fibers.  
     
     
         28 . The process in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the producing of the rod comprises pouring at least a part of the multiple-component fibers and the at least one other component onto a conveyor.  
     
     
         29 . The process in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the at least one other component comprises fibers.  
     
     
         30 . The process in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the at least one other component comprises a powder or granulate.  
     
     
         31 . The process in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the powder or granulate is added to the rod prior to heating.  
     
     
         32 . The process in accordance with  claim 30 , wherein the powder of granulate is added to the multiple-component fibers during pouring.  
     
     
         33 . The process in accordance with  claim 28 , wherein the at least one other component comprises other fibers, which are different from the multiple-component fibers, and a powder or granulate.  
     
     
         34 . The process in accordance with  claim 33 , wherein the powder is added to a mixture of the multiple-component fibers and the other fibers during the pouring of the mixture onto the conveyor.  
     
     
         35 . The process in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein the producing of the rod comprises pouring at least a part of the multiple-component fibers onto a conveyor.  
     
     
         36 . The process in accordance with  claim 26 , further comprising shaping the rod in a garniture apparatus, thereby producing a cylindrically shaped rod.  
     
     
         37 . The process in accordance with  claim 36 , wherein the heating of the rod occurs one of in or after the shaping in the garniture apparatus.  
     
     
         38 . The process in accordance with  claim 26 , further comprising encasing the rod in a casing material.  
     
     
         39 . The process in accordance with  claim 38 , wherein the casing material comprises a casing paper.  
     
     
         40 . The process in accordance with  claim 26 , further comprising cutting the filter to a desired length.  
     
     
         41 . The process in accordance with  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 connecting cigarette rods to opposite ends of the filter; and    cutting the filter in half to form two filtered cigarettes.    
     
     
         42 . A filtered cigarette produced in accordance with the process of  claim 41 .  
     
     
         43 . A filter produced in accordance with the process of  claim 26 .  
     
     
         44 . A cigarette comprising a filter produced in accordance with the process of  claim 26  connected to a cigarette rod.  
     
     
         45 . A filter comprising: 
 multiple-component fibers having lengths shorter than a length of said filter; and    portions of said multiple-component fibers being structured to adhere to each other to form contacting points.    
     
     
         46 . The filter in accordance with  claim 45 , wherein said multiple-component fibers comprising casings formed of a first material and cores formed of a second material different from said first material.  
     
     
         47 . The filter in accordance with  claim 46 , wherein said casings having a lower melting point than said cores.  
     
     
         48 . The filter in accordance with  claim 47 , wherein said connecting points are formed by the cores melting together.  
     
     
         49 . The filter in accordance with  claim 46 , wherein said first material comprises at least one of polyester and polyethylene terephthalate and said second material comprises polyethylene.  
     
     
         50 . The filter in accordance with  claim 45 , further comprising an other component, different from said multiple-component fibers, 
 wherein portions of said multiple-component fibers are structured to adhere to said other component.    
     
     
         51 . The filter in accordance with  claim 50 , wherein said other component comprises at least one of cellulose and charcoal fibers.  
     
     
         52 . The filter in accordance with  claim 50 , wherein said other component comprises a powdery or granulate material comprising at least one of activated charcoal, an adsorber, an absorber, a catalyst and a flavoring material.  
     
     
         53 . The filter in accordance with  claim 52 , wherein said other component further comprises at least one of cellulose and charcoal fibers.  
     
     
         54 . The filter in accordance with  claim 45  being coupled to a cellulose acetate filter.  
     
     
         55 . A cigarette comprising a filter in accordance with  claim 45  and a cigarette rod.