Tobacco smoke filter and method of production

Abstract

A product rod comprising a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end; and a wrapper engaged around the plurality of filters or filter elements, the wrapper including perforations.

1 . A method of forming a cigarette comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end;   engaging a wrapper around the plurality of filters or filter elements;   perforating the wrapper with a line of 16 to 39 perforations in register with each junction between abutted filters or filter elements;   removing at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements from the plurality of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements; and   employing the at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements removed from the plurality of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements as a filter while rolling the cigarette   wherein a portion of the wrapper around the removed at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements is maintained around the removed at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements while rolling the cigarette.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters, or individual tobacco smoke filter elements, are identical or substantially identical. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the wrapper is paper or other sheet material. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein the paper has basis weight of 15-50 gsm. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are symmetrical. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are oval or rectangular. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are of approximate dimensions 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the perforations are spaced at 10 to 25 holes per cm. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements include a substantially cylindrical core of tobacco smoke filtering material. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements include a self-sustaining longitudinally extending cylindrical core of tobacco smoke filtering material. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements include a self-sustaining longitudinally extending cylindrical core comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially continuous filaments of tobacco smoke filtering material which are bonded at their points of contact. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements include a self-sustaining longitudinally extending cylindrical core comprising a plurality of randomly oriented fibres of tobacco smoke filtering material which are bonded at their points of contact. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements include one or more continuous components extending substantially longitudinally of the cylindrical core. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a cigarette comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end;   engaging a wrapper around the plurality of filters or filter elements;   perforating the wrapper with a line of perforations extending from one end of the product rod to the other end and defining a helix about the periphery of the wrapper;   removing at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements from the plurality of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements; and   employing the at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements removed from the plurality of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements as a filter while rolling the cigarette;   wherein a portion of the wrapper around the removed at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements is maintained around the removed at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements while rolling the cigarette.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the pitch of the helix defined by the line of the perforations is the length of a single individual filter or filter element. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the perforations are symmetrical. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the perforations are oval or rectangular. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the perforations are of approximate dimensions 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the perforations are spaced at 5 to 25 holes per cm. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the individual tobacco smoke filters, or individual tobacco smoke filter elements, are identical or substantially identical. 
     
     
         21 . A method of forming a cigarette comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of individual tobacco smoke filters or filter elements abutted end to end;   engaging a wrapper around the plurality of filters or filter elements;   perforating the wrapper with a line of 16 to 39 perforations in register with each junction between abutted filters or filter elements;   removing one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements from the plurality of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements; and   employing the one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements removed from the plurality of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements as a filter while rolling the cigarette;   wherein a portion of the wrapper around the removed at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements is maintained around the removed at least one of the tobacco smoke filters or filter elements while rolling the cigarette.