Gravure-printed, banded cigarette paper

Abstract

A cigarette and cigarette paper have a plurality of multilayer bands formed by printing a highly viscous aqueous film-forming composition. After heating the composition to lower its viscosity, the bands are applied to the cigarette paper by gravure printing the composition. The composition is quenched and gelatinized by contact with the cool cigarette paper reducing absorption of water by the paper and reducing wrinkling, cockling, and waviness. Multiple gravure printed layers may be used to form the bands.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A printing composition for cigarette paper comprising:
 water; and   a film-forming compound comprising 20 to 50% by weight;   wherein the printing composition has a viscosity less than about 100 cP at a temperature in the range of 40° to 90° C., and a viscosity exceeding about 200 cP at a temperature of about 23° C.   
     
     
         17 . The printing composition of  claim 16 , wherein the film-forming compound is selected from the group consisting of starch, alginate, carrageenan, guar gum, pectin, calcium carbonate, and citrates. 
     
     
         18 . The printing composition of  claim 16 , wherein the film-forming compound is starch. 
     
     
         19 . The printing composition of  claim 17 , wherein the film-forming compound is an oxidized starch. 
     
     
         20 . The printing composition of  claim 17 , wherein the film-forming compound is alginate. 
     
     
         21 . A cigarette wrapper paper comprising:
 a paper web having a porosity exceeding about 20 Coresta units;   a plurality of bands on the web, the bands being generally parallel and spaced from one another by a nominal distance exceeding the width of the bands but less than the nominal length of a cigarette tobacco rod, each band including a gelatinized film-forming composition that gels when cooled to room temperature and which comprises at least two layers, and the porosity through the band and underlying paper being in the range of 0 to 15 Coresta units;   a first layer of said at least two layers being directly on the web consisting of a gelled film-forming composition selected from the group consisting of starch, alginate, carrageen, guar gum, pectin, calcium carbonate, and citrates, the gelled film-forming composition having been printed directly onto the web as a viscous, aqueous solution in a heated condition and cooled upon contact with the surface of the web.   
     
     
         22 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The cigarette wrapper paper of  claim 21 , wherein the layers of each band have a composite coat weight in the range of 0.5 to 15 gsm. 
     
     
         25 . The cigarette wrapper paper of  claim 24 , wherein the composite coat weight is about 5 gsm. 
     
     
         26 . The cigarette wrapper paper of  claim 21 , wherein a first layer contacts the paper, and a second layer is on the first layer. 
     
     
         27 . The cigarette wrapper paper of  claim 26 , wherein a third layer is on the second layer. 
     
     
         28 . A cigarette comprising:
 a tobacco rod constructed of the wrapper as claimed in  claim 21 .   
     
     
         29 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A cigarette wrapper comprising:
 a base web; and   a plurality of bands disposed at spaced locations along said base web, said bands including at least one application of a gelled film-forming agent that is in a condition of having been printed upon said spaced locations while in a fluid heated state, said agent having gelled upon contact with the base web.   
     
     
         41 . A smoking article comprising a tobacco rod and optionally a filter, said tobacco rod including the cigarette wrapper of  claim 40 .