Filter element, mouthpiece and cooling element

Abstract

There is disclosed a mouth piece, filter element or cooling element for an aerosol generating article comprising: a first section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a channel extending longitudinally from an end of the first section; a second section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material; wherein the first section and the second section are adjacent and integral; wherein the channel has a non-circular transverse cross section which varies in the longitudinal direction by rotating about a longitudinal axis of the first section.

1 . A mouth piece, filter element or cooling element for an aerosol generating article comprising: a first section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a channel extending longitudinally from an end of the first section; a second section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material; wherein the first section and the second section are adjacent and integral; wherein the channel has a non-circular transverse cross section which varies in the longitudinal direction by rotating about a longitudinal axis of the first section. 
     
     
         2 . The mouth piece, filter element or cooling element according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a transverse cross section which is a modified circle having one or more protuberant portions extending towards the centre of the circle, a cross shape, or a rectangle; and/or wherein the inner surface comprises one or more ridges which extend helically about a longitudinal axis of the first section. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The mouth piece, filter element or cooling element according to  claim 1 , comprising a third section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a channel extending longitudinally from an end of the third section; for example wherein the third section channel has a non-circular transverse cross section which varies in the longitudinal direction by rotating about a longitudinal axis of the third section; for example wherein the third section channel has a transverse cross section which is a modified circle having one or more protuberant portions extending towards the centre of the circle, a cross shape, or a rectangle. 
     
     
         5 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A mouth piece, filter element or cooling element for an aerosol generating article comprising: a first section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a channel extending longitudinally from an end of the first section; a second section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material; wherein the inner surface comprises one or more ridge(s) which extend helically about a longitudinal axis of the first section; and wherein the first section and the second section are adjacent and integral. 
     
     
         8 . The mouth piece, filter element or cooling element according to  claim 7  comprising: a third section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a channel extending longitudinally from an end of the third section; for example, wherein the inner surface comprises one or more ridge(s) which extend helically about a longitudinal axis of the third section. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The mouth piece, filter element or cooling element according to  claim 4 , wherein the third section is adjacent to the second section and integral with the second section, such that the second section is between the first section and the third section. 
     
     
         11 . The mouth piece, filter element or cooling element according to of  claim 2 , wherein the or each ridge extends along the entire length of the inner surface; and/or wherein the inner surface comprises two or more ridges. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The mouth piece filter element or cooling element according to  claim 1 , wherein the filtering material comprises a plasticiser. 
     
     
         14 . A filter for an aerosol-generating article comprising a filter element according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A multiple rod comprising a plurality of mouthpieces, filter elements or cooling elements according to  claim 1  joined end-to-end in a mirror image relationship. 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol-generating article comprising a mouthpiece, filter element or cooling element according to  claim 1  or a filter for an aerosol-generating article comprising the filter element. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for making a mouth piece filter element or cooling element for an aerosol generating article, the apparatus comprising:
 a shaping chamber having an inlet for receiving filtering material and an outlet for discharging a rod of filtering material; and a shaping rod;
 wherein the shaping rod is configured to rotate; 
 wherein the shaping chamber comprises a curing zone extending longitudinally along at least part of the length of the shaping chamber; 
 and wherein the shaping rod is configured to move longitudinally between a first position in which the end of the shaping rod is positioned at an end of the curing zone and the shaping rod extends along the entire length of the curing zone; and a second position in which the end of the shaping rod is distanced longitudinally from the first position and the shaping rod does not extend along the entire length of the curing zone. 
   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the shaping rod is coupled to a first motor for rotating the shaping rod; and/or wherein the shaping rod is coupled to a second motor for moving the shaping rod between the first and second position; and/or wherein the shaping chamber comprises a hollow substantially cylindrical element for shaping the filtering material; and/or wherein the shaping rod has a non-circular transverse cross section; for example wherein the non-circular transverse cross section is a modified circle having one or more indentations, a cross shape or a rectangle. 
     
     
         20 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , comprising a heating element for applying heat to the filtering material; and/or comprising a steam element for applying steam to the filtering material; for example wherein the shaping chamber comprises a steam element for applying steam to the filtering material within the curing zone. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , comprising a cutting element for cutting the rod of filtering material; and/or comprising a plasticising element for applying plasticiser to the filtering material before the filtering material enters the shaping chamber. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of making a mouth piece, filter element or cooling element for an aerosol generating article, the method comprising:
 advancing filtering material in a longitudinal direction;   drawing the filtering material into and through a shaping chamber,
 wherein the shaping chamber comprises an inlet for receiving filtering material and an outlet through which a rod of filtering material exits the shaping chamber; 
 wherein the shaping chamber comprises a curing zone extending longitudinally along at least part of the length of the chamber; 
   moving a shaping rod longitudinally between a first position in which the end of the shaping rod is positioned at an end of the curing zone and the shaping rod extends along the entire length of the curing zone, and a second position in which the end of the shaping rod is distanced longitudinally from the first position, and the shaping rod does not extend along the entire length of the curing zone;   rotating the shaping rod;
 such that in the first position the advancing filtering material advances through the space defined by the inner surface of the chamber and the shaping rod to form a first section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a longitudinally extending channel having a non-circular transverse cross section which varies in the longitudinal direction by rotating about a longitudinal axis of the first section, and 
 in the second position filtering material advances into the space defined by the end of the shaping rod, the inner surface of the chamber and the end of the curing zone to form a second section comprising a longitudinally extending core of filtering material; to thereby form a longitudinally extending rod of filtering material having alternating first and second sections. 
   
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein heat is applied to the filtering material within the curing zone; and/or wherein steam is applied to the filtering material within the curing zone; and/or wherein the shaping chamber comprises a substantially cylindrical hollow element comprising an inlet for receiving filtering material and an outlet for discharging a rod of filtering material; and/or wherein shaping rod has a non-circular transverse cross section; for example wherein the non-circular transverse cross section is a modified circle having one or more indentations, a cross shape or a rectangle. 
     
     
         31 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 29 , comprising applying plasticiser to the filtering material before the filtering material is drawn into the shaping chamber; and/or comprising a step of expanding the filtering material before the filtering material enters the shaping chamber; and/or wherein the filtering material is drawn into a stuffer jet before entering the shaping chamber; and/or comprising a step of cutting the longitudinally extending rod of filtering material to form one or more filter element(s), mouthpiece(s) or cooling element(s). 
     
     
         36 - 38 . (canceled)